Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona – Six Things We Loved About The Clasico

The Santiago Bernabeu stadium played host to a game well worthy of it’s grandeur on Saturday night, as Barcelona ran out stunning 6-2 winners in a quite wonderful instalment of the Real Madrid v Barça clasico.

Goals from Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique as well as two apiece from Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry handed Barcelona an emphatic and famous victory in Madrid, and also a significant one in that it practically wraps up the Spanish title for the Catalan giants. Pep Guardiola’s team now hold a seven point lead at the top of La Liga with just four games to go, and are all but champions.

The win will live long in the memory for Barcelona fans, made all the sweeter because of the manner in which they managed to humiliate their biggest rivals in front of a worldwide audience. Winning 6-2 is about as definitive a statement of Barça’s overall superiority over Real Madrid right now as you could possibly get.

This year’s clasico was also the perfect example of just how rapidly things can change in football. It was only 360 days prior that a dejected and defeated Barcelona meekly formed a guard of honour to salute the kings of Spain and freshly crowned champions Real Madrid, who mocked and tormented their beleaugured foes with glee. Just under a year later it is now Barça’s turn to crow, and with the quality of their football not only on the night but over the whole season, few would deny them the honours they are surely soon due. Interestingly, 7 players on the teamsheet for the 6-2 trouncing also started for Barcelona in their 4-1 beating at the Bernabeu 360 days earlier. How quickly the worm can turn.

In tribute to Barcelona then, here are 6 things that we really loved about Saturday’s game: Madrid fans; you may want to look away now…

1, Carlos Puyol tearing off the captain’s armband and making a point of kissing and holding it aloft proudly for all (particularly those associated with Madrid) to see. The Barcelona captain’s armband is in the colours of the Catalan flag and therefore represents a symbol of Catalunya.

2, The Ultras Sur getting utterly silenced first by Henry’s goal, then Puyol’s and then by the Lionel Messi clinical finish that put Barça 3-1 up. The Ultras Sur supporters group, sectioned behind the goal Barcelona attacked in that first half, represent, shall we say, a more disagreeable element of Real Madrid’s support base. To put it politely.

3, Dani Alves’ relieved cheeky grin after narrowly avoiding scoring an own goal that would have handed Real Madrid an equaliser at 2-2. It was the way he looked, chuckling to himself, so carefree, so full of wanton enjoyment, flying in the face of all the pressure and nervous tension behind such a big, important game that made this such a brilliant moment. As if the Brazilian were just kicking a dusty ball around in a park with his mates.

4, The pass from Xavi to Thierry Henry for Barcelona’s fourth goal. Sublime.

5, Gerard Pique’s casual turn and finish for the sixth and final goal, deceiving everyone around him in the process. Fabio Cannavaro is a World Cup winning captain. Iker Casillas is probably the world’s best keeper. Pique, 22, playing in his first full season as a first team regular, fools them both into thinking he is going to play the ball anywhere but where he actually puts it (the back of the net) and pushing further away from their line, all by the way he shapes his body. The audacity!

6, And finally, the very fact that Barcelona scored 6 goals (SIX!) at the Bernabeu, in a performance worthy of any and every superlative that will inevitably be thrown their way. Theirs is a style unparalleled anywhere in world football right now, and it is just a joy to watch.

What did you think of the clasico? Are Barcelona the best team in the world? Where now for Real Madrid? Have your say in the comments field below.

FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Spain, Spanish Primera Division