Phenomenal match by the Madridistas who are deprived of victory in the dying seconds
This Barcelona-Madrid Clásico has earned a privileged spot in history. A deluxe game, with a dizzying first act jam-packed with goals (4), a penalty, a sending-off and, above all, a superb lesson in football. Van Nistelrooy and Messi rose to the occasion, scoring two a piece for their respective teams, but the playing parity was broken by Real Madrid in the second half with a direct and incisive game that subsided the footballing ethos of Barcelona. Following a wonderful free kick pass by Madridista playmaker Guti, Sergio Ramos put the Whites ahead, but Messi gave Madrid the kiss of death and unfairly levelled the scoreboard in the very last minute.
A Clásico is always a Clásico. The pride of the two Spanish footballing giants had been severely bruised following their respective European upsets. But both wanted to put their fist down in La Liga, and that certainly produced a marvelous gift to football and football fans worldwide: the best first half we have seen, at least, this season. Both teams stepped onto the green Cam Nou turf all pumped up and ready to deliver the goods for the benefit of their supporters. As has been often underlined, a victory in these games is more than just the mere three points, especially in the way the winning side pick up a splendid boost of morale. It's funny how the teams ended up sharing points.
Capello decided in favour of Salgado as right wingback, with Gonzalo Higuaín once again pairing up in attack with target man Ruud Van Nistelrooy -one of the attractions of the encounter- in a clear message by the Madridistas that they were out for the win. The tactical idea was based on sitting back behind the halfline, delivering a forceful and conclusive defensive attitude and a swift break in the counterattack. The structure, of course, had to rotate around a mastermind, an orchestrator... non other than vice-captain José Mª Gutiérrez. Guti, simply put. Meanwhile, Frank Rijkaard stood by his principles and lined the exact same teamsheet as had battled it out at Anfield, with the three-pronged attack instiling fear wherever they roam.
Perfect opening act
The initial moments of sizing up could not have anticipated what was to come shortly and for the rest of the first half, that is, four goals, a pen, a sending-off –Oleguer, minutes before the break-, the crazy tempo, the devotion and effort exercised by all players, and an intensity only fit for frenzy junkies. The first ones to open the scoring can and hit jackpot were the Madridistas. Guti put his vision to work and executed the counterattack. Thuram's awful clearance left a dead ball just inches from the penalty box arc and it was Ruud Van Nistelrooy who made his first stellar appearance of the night to lodge the ball in the back of Víctor Valdés' with just 5 minutes on the clock.
Just mentioning the three cavalrymen -Messi, Ronaldinho and Eto’o- should be enough of a reason to understand that Barcelona stored much quality up ahead to think that things would just stand still. The Cameroon international applied awesome pace down the flanks and cutting in, but only one thing stood tall in front of him: Iker Casillas. Only 9 minutes into the match, the Madridista stopper won his first one-on-one against the red-and-blue number “9”. It was not for him to score this evening, but he did manage to assist Messi immediately after for the equaliser. On a par with his teammate's serve, the Argentine produced a quality control and a superb low, cross shot to Casillas' far post (min. 9).
The pace was electric and Real Madrid were just on the dot when just three minutes after the equaliser, they managed to get ahead once again, putting a damper on the celebration of the locals. Once again, the play starred almost the same players as in the first goal of the Whites. Guti cut in inside the box and Oleguer stuck his foot in only to bring down the Madridista number “14”. The referee called the penalty and put the Catalan defender down on the book for his late challenge. In came the striker, Van The Man, Mister Goal Man. Low on the ground, down the middle… and jackpot again. Van Nistelrooy with the brace, already on a hat trick. Truly, a lesson in surgical efficiency by Real Madrid.
The local defense was clearly under par in contrast with the brilliant output of F.C Barcelona's attacking front, with Samuel Eto’o set on beating Casillas, but the Madrilenian keeper kept denying the African striker time and time again. To make things up for his teammate, who has yet to regain the sharpness that he is famous for, the best player of Barça this evening, Lionel, Messi, levelled the score yet again. The Merengue goalkeeper was again masterly under the bar as he deflected a point-blank shot on target by Ronaldinho, but the ball was left to bounce around one-too-many times in mid-box. In came the Argentinian international with a wonderful piece of technique, getting the right strength and spin and putting the ball away (min.27).
The two teams kept at it as if possessed by umbridled ambition and the chances just continued to pour down, neither team happy with the draw. Van Nistelrooy (min.37), Iniesta –very quiet all game long- and Eto’o could have turned the tide, but the derby script did not include any other strikes during the first half. However, it did include Oleguer's error of judgement and subsequent sending-off in the form of two yellow cards. Real Madrid went to the break with that advantage, but the real winners were the crowd and the fans watching on TV as they witnessed the very essence of scintillating football.
Spectacular second half
Barcelona were forced to rearrange their structure forcing Eto’o to hit the showers. The news were very welcome by the Madridistas, who gained control of the ball and dominated the game through and through from this point forward. Capello's men kept dreaming of and pushing for a victory, with Barça hitting their lowest point as the game resumed. Real Madrid were really starting to turn the screw while Van Nistelrooy became his team's reference point ahead. The Dutchman surely put in his best performance with the white jersey since he signed for Madrid in the summertime.
The Madridista siege was not successful only due to one man, opposing goalkeeper Valdés. But you knew it was coming when the Whites managed to have up to three consecutive chances in the boots of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who was well on his way to a hat-trick in tonight's splendid scenario, the Camp Nou: first, with a none-on-one against the local stopper; second, with a great shot that was followed by an even more awesome two-act stop; and finally, with another one-on-one after the quick break and cross in by Higuaín, but the Barcelona keeper once more showed great reflexes with a one-hand deflection at point blank range as the Ducth international tried to flick the ball over.
Real Madrid deserved the goal. They were the only dominator in the second half -the first attempt on goal by Barcelona in this act came 30 minutes into the half. If someone deserved the flashes and the joy that a goal brings with it, that was Sevillian centre back Sergio Ramos, who had been leading his team's defense with poise and determination all evening long. It was precisely the same conviction that he brought when he took the big leap upward to head the ball with the back of his head and into the far corner of the Catalan goal (min.73) Barcelona never gave up and kept at it, led on by the rage they felt following Madrid's thrid goal. And their prize they did find with the Messi equaliser well into injury time. Real Madrid deserved to win at the Camp Nou. They delivered quality and effort galore and they found precisely the type of image every one of their fans wishes the team would cast until the end of the season.
MATCH REPORT
Barcelona: Valdés; Oleguer, Puyol, Thuram, Márquez (Gudjohnsen, min.80); Deco (Belletti, min.70), Xavi, Iniesta, Mecí; Ronaldinho and Eto’o (Sylvinho, min.45).
Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Helguera, Torres; Diarra, Gago, Guti (De la Red, min.80), Raúl (Robinho, min.60); Higuaín and Van Nistelrooy.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco. Navarre Refereeing Association. Cautioned Ramos (min.20), Van Nistelrooy (min.43), Xavi (min.45), Deco (min.51), Diarra (min.66), Salgado (min.70) and Torres (min.90). Sent off Oleguer with two bookings (min.45)
Goals: 0-1: Van Nistelrooy
1-1: Messi
1-2: Van Nistelrooy
2-2: Messi
2-3: Sergio Ramos
3-3: Messi
Notes: Matchday 26 of the Primera Liga with the Clásico held at the Camp Nou
