It’s El Clasico time. La Liga season 2022/23 took a pivotal moment yesterday when the two Spanish giants met on matchday 26. With the La Liga title race on the line, Madrid travelled to Camp Nou in the hopes of cutting the deficit of 09 points to the top. But the resurgent Barcelona under their former player, now manager, Xavi Hernandez came back from a goal down to defeat them in injury time by 2-1.
FC Barcelona 2 (Sergio Roberto 45’, Franck Kessie 90+2’)
Real Madrid 1 (09’ OG Ronald Araujo)
Head to Head this Season
Real Madrid and FC Barcelona met for the fourth time this season with Barca now winning all last three meetings against them, including the title-winning drubbing of 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa Del Rey semi-final first leg by 1-0. While Madrid had the better of Blaugranas when they visited Bernabeu for matchday 09 in La Liga by 3-1.
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What happened?
For the first time since 1992, there was no mosaic in the stadium for El Clasico. Madrid knew that the reception would be hostile considering the stature of the match and that they needed 3 points here to cut the lead to the top. Barcelona started the match very positively as they forced Thibaut Courtois into some early saves with shots attempted by Robert Lewandowski & Raphinha. It was hard for Madrid to keep up with the press of Barca’s young midfield, but they got the opening goal against the run of play when Vinicius Jr’s cross hit the forehead of Araujo and ended up in the back of Barcelona’s net as Ter Stegen could do nothing about it.
Barcelona kept up the pressure with De Jong & Gavi as stand-out players in the midfield constantly out-running Kroos & Modric. They were finally rewarded with their persistence to break down Madrid’s defence when Sergio Roberto finished from inside the box in the last minute of the first half to equalize for the home side. Madrid thought they had the winner in the 83rd minute when Marco Asensio scored for the visitors but VAR eventually ruled that goal offside.
Barcelona handed Madrid the decisive blow in the La Liga title race with an injury-time winner. The perfect pass from young La Masian graduate Alejandro Balde to Franck Kessie for
With doubts over his future Franck Kessi for the second time this season hit the winner against Real Madrid.
Is the La Liga title gone?
Well, no team in the history of La Liga has overturned a 12-point deficit to the top. With only 12
matchdays left to go, FC Barcelona are in a pole position to win their first La Liga since 2018/19 when Leo Messi was at their helm.
Xavi Hernandez took over during the difficult phase of transition and is transforming this Barcelona team into a force to be reckoned with. With just nine league goals conceded this season, Barça’s defence by far has been the best in Europe’s top 5 leagues. They are now perfectly placed to win their 27th La Liga title with a 12-point comfortable lead at the top of the table.
