Real Madrid Clinch Fourth Straight ElClasico Win
25 October, 2021
Real Madrid claimed their fourth successive ElClasico victory after defeating FC Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou on Sunday evening.
LaLiga
Result: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
Date: 24 October 2021
Venue: Camp Nou
Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti went with the same starting line-up from Wednesday's UEFA Champions League tie, while the Catalans recalled Ansu Fati and Eric Garcia as Luuk de Jong and Clement Lenglet dropped to the bench.
After a cagey opening, the game's first chance arrived in the 25th minute when Memphis shrugged off a couple challenges before picking out Sergino Dest, who blazed over the crossbar with only Thibaut Courtois to beat in the box.
The hosts were made to pay for that miss as the visitors took the lead on 32 minutes when David Alaba collected a pass from Vinicius before rifling the ball past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in his first Clasico.
Barcelona did look to get themselves back on level terms soon after but they struggled to carve out chances with Fati going closest with a strike just before the break that was blocked in the box.
Ronald Koeman responded with a change at halftime as Philippe Coutinho replaced Óscar Mingueza as the hosts went in search of an equaliser.
The change did spark some life into the Catalans as Fati forced Courtois into a save with a powerful strike while they also felt they should have had a penalty on 58 minutes.
The visitors nearly found a second goal at the other end when Ter Stegen was called up on to keep out Karim Benzema's close-range effort.
Second-half substitute Sergio Aguero had the chance to level matters in the final six minutes after being picked out by Depay, but the Argentine failed to steer his header on target as Los Blancos held on for the win.
However, Los Blancos sealed the win in second-half stoppage time when Lucas Vazquez slotted home from close range after a swift counter-attack.
Aguero did pull a goal back in the 96th minute with a close-range finish, but it was too little too late as Los Blancos held on for maximum points.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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