Barcelona on Sunday snatched a 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid with Franck Kessie’s late goal to move 12 points clear at the top of La Liga.
The victory dents Real Madrid’s ambitions of retaining the title and leaves the Catalans close to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2018-2019.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid took the lead through a Ronald Araujo own-goal, but Barcelona pulled level when Sergi Roberto tucked home just before halftime.
Photo: AFP
Both sides had chances to win the game and Marco Asensio struck for Madrid, but the goal was ruled offside by the video assistant referee (VAR), before Alejandro Balde set up Kessie in the 92nd minute.
“It’s not definitive, but it’s a very important step,” Xavi told reporters. “Twelve points clear at the top of La Liga, we are having an extraordinary league campaign, I am very happy for that and proud to watch the team play.”
The buildup to the match was overshadowed by Barcelona’s corruption charge in the “Caso Negreira” refereeing scandal.
Madrid joined Spanish prosecutors’ complaint against Barcelona last week and club president Florentino Perez snubbed the game for the first time in more than 20 years, amid rising tensions between the two Spanish giants.
That fed the match’s intensity, both on and off the pitch, in Xavi’s sixth Clasico as Barcelona coach, but only his first at the Camp Nou.
Xavi asked fans to make the stadium a pressure cooker and they responded, selling it out, whistling Madrid in possession and conjuring one of the best atmospheres of the season.
However, they fell behind in unfortunate circumstances. Araujo deflected Vinicius Junior’s cross in at the near post, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen helpless.
Araujo, playing at rightback to counteract the Brazilian, has enjoyed his duels with Vinicius in the past, but this time the winger triumphed, albeit fortuitously.
Barcelona supporters became enraged by his emphatic celebration in front of them.
It was the first goal from open play Barcelona have conceded at the Camp Nou in La Liga all season, and only the second strike at home and the ninth overall.
Barcelona complained defender Nacho, already booked, should have been sent off for a handoff on Raphinha.
The hosts did not get their wish, but were building up steam and found the breakthrough just before halftime from an unlikely source.
Selected in place of injured midfielder Pedri, Sergi Roberto was in the right place at the right time to control a loose ball in the penalty area and arc it beyond Thibaut Courtois.
Barcelona had significantly more possession than in their Copa del Rey win over Madrid and significantly more chances, but Madrid nearly won it.
Real Madrid substitute Asensio fired home, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a nervy wait for the VAR.
“We did not win because of an offside that we’re still doubtful about,” Ancelotti said. “I was not so sure. We have doubts about it, and we go back to Madrid with this doubt.”
Barcelona seemed content with the draw, but Kessie’s last-gasp strike sparked wild celebrations at the Camp Nou.
“I don’t have the feeling [the league is won], but I understand the fans singing campeones — it’s a considerable advantage, but we can’t relax,” Xavi said. “The atmosphere was extraordinary, how the fans supported the team.”
Earlier, Real Sociedad held on to fourth place with a 2-0 win over Elche.
They are under pressure from Real Betis Balompie and Villarreal, who also both won.
Betis, fifth, are three points behind the Basque side after they beat RCD Mallorca 1-0, while Villarreal, sixth, thrashed CA Osasuna 3-0 on the road and sit four points behind the Andalusians.
Sevilla fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Getafe as their topsy-turvy season continued, leaving Jorge Sampaoli’s side 14th and two points above the relegation zone.
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