FC Barcelona News

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid is probably the biggest fixture of the year worldwide, and while it always has a huge build-up it is sometimes quite a let down.

That wasn’t the case last night though, particularly if you are a Barça fan. While the Catalans came on to play the beautiful game, the visitors showed what happens when you hire a bunch of expensive thugs who have no idea what sportsmanship is.

And that was nowhere better demonstrated by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was bought for talent that he can never show when the odds are too high and behaves like a petulant prima dona when things don’t go his way.

Such as when he took the ball from Pep Guardiola and pushed him back around 30 minutes in – honestly, I know tensions run high but was that in any way necessary. I’m not condoning violence at football matches, but if I’d been in Guardiola’s place I think I would have decked him.

Okay, so now I have that off my chest….

It was a pretty miserable night from the point of view of the weather – cold and raining and nobody likes much to be out in that, but support for Barça – particularly on a Monday night – was outstanding. Perhaps it was something to do with the Catalan elections on Sunday, perhaps it was simply the event itself, but people were going out of their way to ignore the rain as best they could and support Barcelona.

The team went on with one intention – to beat Real Madrid, and they showed how intent they were to do that from the start. Messi came close in minute six, but Xavi put an Iniesta assist into the goal just four minutes later to open up the scoring. Seven minutes later it was Villa’s pass to Pedro that put the hosts 2-0 up.

That’s when Real Madrid really started to show how nasty they can be, with Ronaldo’s push of Guardiola at around the half hour mark. That earned him a yellow card, but the scuffles on pitch afterwards looked like the ref might start showing the red. In the end it was only Victor Valdes who earned a yellow.

A few minutes later when Valdes tangled directly with Ronaldo in the Barça area it looked like the visitors would be awarded a penalty. When it wasn’t given, Valdes just laughed in the face of his opponent. And what happened at the end of the first half? Leo Messi was clearly elbowed in the face, but it was him that was shown the yellow card!

After the break there was no let up for Barça. In the 54th minute David Villa scored his first; and three minutes later he did it again! Did I imagine it or had Jose Mourinho said that Villa can’t score??!!.. Oh yeah? Mourinho’s sour look on the bench told a story – his face had been well and truly rubbed in the dirt.

4-0 good enough for Barça? Not when it can be 5-0, as Jeffren made it right at the end. And when the stadium was just waiting for the fat lady, Ramos was shown a red for completely unnecessary behaviour and started pushing Puyol, Xavi and other players around. Umm… aren’t you supposed to be team mates in the Spanish selection, Ramos?

At 63% possession, Barça looked like they were playing a second rate team, not against so-called galacticos, thereby leapfrogging them in the league.

Conclusion?

Barça walked all over Madrid in the first half and after scoring the first two goals they simply tried dirty play to put Barça off their stride and break their flow. Real Madrid – you really ought to be ashamed. At least Jose Mourinho was suitably humbled after the match and said that Barça deserved to win.

And man of the match – definitely Cristiano Ronaldo, but for all the wrong reasons. He is a disgrace.

1-0, Xavi (min 10)
2-0, Pedro (min 17)
3-0, Villa (min 54)
4-0, Villa (min 57)
5-0, Jeffren (min 91)