Barcelona opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the La Liga table after humbling arch rivals Real Madrid 6-2 in a one-sided El Clasico at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday.
It was Real’s last shot at retaining their title, but Barca outclassed their rivals with exhibition soccer and, with just four games remaining, are now poised to win their first league title since 2006.
Real took a 14th-minute lead through Gonzalo Higuain, but Barca went on to end Real’s 18-match unbeaten run with an emphatic win to clinch a league double over their foes having beaten them 2-0 at the Nou Camp.
PHOTO: AFP
Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi both grabbed a brace, while defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique were also on target as Barca ran riot in Madrid and brought up a century of goals in the league.
“We have taken a giant step toward the title and are so close now,” jubilant Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. “We didn’t want to hide here and tried to be brave like we have been all season and go for the win.”
Barca now go into Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea — with the first leg finishing 0-0 — in high spirits.
“This win gives us a lot of confidence for the Chelsea game,” Guardiola said.
Real coach Juande Ramos admitted Barcelona were worthy winners and were on a pedestal.
“I think Barcelona are a cut above and today showed that they were superior,” Ramos said. “The big European sides have been better than us and there is nothing else to say. You have to recognize that, although it hurts a lot.”
With 14 minutes gone Sergio Ramos strolled past Abidal to put in a cross and Higuain fired in his 19th goal of the season.
It was a real setback for Barca, but they responded with two goals in as many minutes.
A deft chipped pass from Messi put Henry in on goal in the 18th minute and the Frenchman side-footed past Iker Casillas.
Real had held the lead for just four minutes and then they fell behind in the 20th minute.
Henry won a free-kick and Xavi floated in a great cross that captain Puyol met with a bullet header for his first goal of the season.
Real almost equalized through Arjen Robben a minute later, but thereafter were second best with Casillas keeping his team in the game, thwarting Messi on three occasions, while Eto’o and Dani Alves also went close.
Messi finally got his goal on 35 minutes after a terrible mistake by Lass Diarra.
Xavi stole the ball from the dawdling Diarra and Messi toe-poked the ball past the overworked Casillas.
Barca gave Real a soccer lesson for the remainder of the half with slick passing as Real chased shadows and the home fans responded with jeers.
Those turned to cheers when Ramos headed in a Robben cross in the 56th minute to make it 3-2.
It was a foothold in a match that should have been put to bed, but Ramos then made a terrible mess of the offside trap two minutes later and Henry chipped the ball over Casillas to restore Barca’s two goal cushion.
Messi scored again in the 75th minute as Real were torn apart again and thousands of disgruntled home fans flocked out of the Bernabeu.
Pique completed the scoring on 82 minutes to bring up a century of goals for Barca in the league.
Elsewhere, Sevilla took a giant stride toward the Champions League with a 2-0 win at rivals Villarreal on Saturday. Luis Fabiano and Freddy Kanoute were on target as third-placed Sevilla moved four points clear of Valencia.
In the other match, Numancia gave themselves a chance of staying up with a 2-0 win over Malaga to move off bottom spot.
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