Drenched and defeated Barcelona were beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid in the rain at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium. The game started at a ferocious pace. Messi played Jordi Alba to the byline and Courtois had to get an outstretched arm to his cross or Ousmane Dembele would have turned it in.
Benzema scored his 10th goal in 36 Clasicos and quite possibly his cleverest. Barcelona did not respond well with Pedri and Araujo both booked for fouls. Araujo’s misdemeanor gifted Madrid a free-kick right on the edge of the area from which Kroos scored the second.
His shot bounced off the back of Sergino Dest who had turned as the free-kick came towards him. Alba on the line also got a touch as the ball flew into the back of the net.
Barcelona tried to pull a goal back but Dembele miskicked in the area.
Ronald Koeman changed things at the break abandoning the back three and replacing right wing-back Dest with Griezmann. Barcelona looked for a way back into the game but they found it on the hour.
Alba crossed from the left, Griezmann dummied and Oscar Mingueza finished as best he could hanging out a leg and sending an awkward but highly effective shot past Courtois.
Credit:dailymail.co.uk
The post Real Madrid edge Barcelona in thrilling Clasico appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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