Wasn’t it nice to have a Saturday night dedicated to Spain and El Clasico?
The Premier League and Bundesliga took the evening off, Italy teased us with Udinese against Turin and France stuck Montpellier and Marseille in midfield.
No, you’re okay, thank you. It was just a feast for the eyes on Saturday, and it was Real Madrid who hosted Barcelona in El Clasico. Biggy.
With the two sides separated by two points before the kick-off and both hoping to be able to skip Atletico Madrid to get to the top of La Liga, so much was at stake for the Kings of Spain.
If we were worried that the game would not live up to expectations, these worries were put to bed in 13 minutes. Karim Benzema started the score for the hosts and produced a naughty little back heel to hit the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
We were all impressed …
La Liga’s best striker showed his class again – my boy Benzi ???? Great first half #ElClasico @realmadrid @Benzema
– Mesut Özil (@ MesutOzil1088) April 10, 2021
Benzema and zidane this season ????? #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/duvYeYzMoU
– Abzino (@ Abzino77) April 10, 2021
15 minutes later Madrid were 2-0, thanks to a free kick from Toni Kroos. You love the handsome midfielder.
Ge Kroos and Benzema are Ballon d’or. pic.twitter.com/RzCLb5voWR
– Jeff ³⁴ (@JdristaJr) April 10, 2021
Real Madrid does not hype up its players enough man. Modric, Kroos, Benzema and Casemiro deserve so much more appreciation.
– Trey (@UTDTrey) April 10, 2021
Toni Kroos has more El Clasico goals today (1) than Messi has done since 2018 (0)
– Sb Orlando⭐️ (@starboyorlando) April 10, 2021
Probably the star of the show from the first half was Vinicius Junior, as Barcelona simply could not live with its blowing pace and endless tricks. After his brilliant performance against Liverpool in the middle of the week, it seems that the real Vinicius has finally stood up.
Vinicius will really be world class before our eyes ?? #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/7RXO1EHO1I
– Eli ???? (@VisionaryEli) April 10, 2021
Vinicius Junior checks his back pocket when he gets home pic.twitter.com/6ra1yeWBG9
– JDub (@ChuckyElite_) April 10, 2021
Madrid players when they see Vinícius in space. pic.twitter.com/JrkhLw1RMG
– Ekirungi (EkiNyc)? ✨ (@NzeEkirungi) April 10, 2021
Vinicius Jr. since he dropped Liverpool … pic.twitter.com/8J2evoNC6F
– f (@fgankie) April 10, 2021
He could probably still work on his finishing touches, but …
Vinicius Jrs ability to finish: pic.twitter.com/VOeJkwNNJg
– Fze (@ Fze32) April 10, 2021
Sure to say, Barça’s supporters were not happy with the first half of football.
What I ordered VS What I got # ElClasico #RMABAR #RMAFCB Barca Benzema pic.twitter.com/axhTLh905l
– EVA? (@Ma__evah) April 10, 2021
Great game like this Barca bench Messi ei ???
– Sb Orlando⭐️ (@starboyorlando) April 10, 2021
Barca fans after watching the first half: pic.twitter.com/TFkcHAt9P8
– ACHIIE (@achiie_) April 10, 2021
Having said all this, we saw almost one of the most mental moments in El Clasico history when Lionel Messi rattled the woodwork directly from a corner.
Messi was THIS WHEN scoring goals straight from a corner! ? #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/JKQQP6PklA
– LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 10, 2021
Barcelona fans right now … Barcelona Loses 2-0 in #ElClasico but Messi almost scores a goal from a conerkick
Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/FcC7EbUjjg
– Mbogi Menace? ✊ ?? ☠ (@ItsWanga) April 10, 2021
There was still life in this classic meeting. Barcelona gathered, Ronald Koeman’s substitutions paid off and the visitors found a way back into the game through Oscar Mingueza.
Barca get one back in the pouring rain! ??
Mingueza is done, and that’s the game on? pic.twitter.com/IShnckuzaA
– Watch ElClásico live on Premier Sports? (@PremierSportsTV) April 10, 2021
Messi’s reaction to Mingueza’s goal. My leader ?? #Messi #FCBarcelona #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/iv1jwPu2CR
– Zara? | Messi FC? (@Leomessixprime) April 10, 2021
Barcelona fans when Mingueza scored the goal #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/NJoNe3HVXA
– _Steyvn (@ Steyvn1) April 10, 2021
The game was characterized by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but Messi showed great heart and had a good game. He must have been pretty cold, justice. Bless his little cotton socks.
Messi shakes the play For the first time in the goat’s story pic.twitter.com/gVATxxiYQJ
– Sportsnews (@TimoWenerMedia) April 10, 2021
Sweater for Leo Messi pic.twitter.com/4y84WwTrEi
– The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) April 10, 2021
? – Messi feels the cold, he asks for another shirt on top of another. pic.twitter.com/JYqBUZWP6h
– ??? ???? ? (@TheEuropeanLad) April 10, 2021
Desperate after a goal, Barça showed their desperation and turned to striker Martin Braithwaite to try to find a late equalizer. Unbelievably, he actually made an impact and forced Ferland Mendy into a clumsy challenge.
Barça players broke for a penalty and Madrid players broke for a booking for simulation. It was tense, but Los Merengues survived.
Braithwaite. pic.twitter.com/rmrdRzMAVy
– Simón Abreu (@ Simon_Abreu31) April 10, 2021
The Mendy-Braithwaite situation pic.twitter.com/l3NQ41yqhE
– King Memphis (@ RyanGones95) April 10, 2021
Braithwaite …. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/frftJkHPaJ
– PuroGofio ?? (@ PuroGofi0) April 10, 2021
This game only lacked one important ingredient: Sergio Ramos.
Sergio Ramos does not play in El Clasico for the first time since May 2011. pic.twitter.com/uKJLbynBGy
– Rey (@ReyLaMadrid) April 10, 2021
Luckily we saw him in the stands, went completely bananas and stopped his side to victory.
Misma Pasion min kapten @SergioRamos ❤? https://t.co/95Y7wD00pb pic.twitter.com/ZcrKamdu4P
– Rithik (@Rithik_RM) April 10, 2021
However, it was not clear there. Casemiro realized that he had not picked up a yellow card for a change, overcompensated and grabbed two in the space of a minute and earned an expensive farewell when the two sides went into injury.
Casemiro red card pic.twitter.com/wRFttkCZdG
– Harvey (@ LaPulga__10) April 10, 2021
Casemiro red pic.twitter.com/YAhNLzZcLx
– Musab (@BlaugranaMusab) April 10, 2021
La Masia product Ilaix Moriba almost became Catalonia’s hero with the last kick of the game and smashed the crossbar with a roaring volley.
MORIBA ???????????????
– サ ン チ ョ? (@CarlComptone) April 10, 2021
But Madrid were about to climb a famous El Clasico victory, climb La Liga and place themselves in pole position to defend the Spanish crown. Thank you for one of the best matches of the season!
? ENTER! ? # ElClásico | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/5gx0Exny12
– Real Madrid CF ???? (@realmadriden) April 10, 2021
