6 talking points as Barcelona kill Real Madrid's title hopes in El Clasico
A 92nd-minute winner from super sub Franck Kessie dramatically won El Clasico for Barcelona, who went 12 points clear of arch rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Barca came from behind to win a league Clasico for the first time since the 1980s, as an own goal from Ronald Araujo put Los Blancos Madrid ahead after just nine minutes. Sergi Roberto, who was given the nod over Kessie to start in midfield on a momentous occasion for the Blaugrana, responded by scoring an emphatic equaliser before half-time and it was the hosts who pushed for a winner in an open second period.
Yet it was Real Madrid who thought they'd snatched all three points, as Marco Asensio came off the bench to hit the back of the net. VAR, however, controversially ruled the goal out and allowed Kessie to grab the real winner in stoppage time for Barcelona's 100th El Clasico victory, putting the Campeones elect in a glorious position to win the Spanish title with 12 games remaining.
Here are six talking points from the Camp Nou.
Special guest Pep
There may've been plenty of Premier League and FA Cup action to feast on, but Pep Guardiola chose to spend his Sunday back on home soil to watch the most hotly-anticipated La Liga El Clasico in years. The Manchester City boss watched on nervously from the stands as his beloved Barcelona strutted out in search of what was billed to be a title-winning victory.
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Guardiola will always be synonymous with the Camp Nou, having spent most of his life associated with the club, and hasn't ruled out a return as manager. "If I'm training here [in Manchester], wherever and Barcelona calls me, I'll go to Barcelona," he declared in January. "It's my club."
If Xavi Hernandez stays on track, however, Guardiola might never get the chance.
Vinicius Jr finally wins Araujo battle
Vinicius Junior versus Ronald Araujo; the defining key battle of recent El Clasico fixtures. Coming into this one, Barcelona and Araujo were on a run of three successive victories in which Vinicius Jr had failed to score, much thanks to the Uruguayan defender's man-marking masterclasses and been like kryptonite for the Real Madrid winger.
After just nine minutes on Sunday, though, Vinicius Jr finally got one over on his opponent by clipping in an early cross which deflected off Araujo and looped into Barcelona's goal to give the visitors an early lead. The Brazilian knew that he'd profited from some misfortune, even giving rival Araujo a pat on the back after he finished celebrating in front of a mostly silent Camp Nou crowd.
Vinicius Junior's cross deflected off Ronald Araujo to make it 1-0 to Real Madrid (JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)Catalan inspiration
Although Real Madrid drew first blood, the story of the first half was Barcelona's response. Constantly probing Los Blancos' back line in search of an equaliser, attacking duo Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both troubled away goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Just as the half-time break dawned, it was Barcelona's homegrown midfielder, Sergi Roberto, who popped up with a goal and vindicated Xavi's decision to start him. Finishing off a goalmouth scramble with a cool strike, the Catalan native emphatically got Barcelona back on level terms - and the noise was deafening.
Sergio Roberto's equaliser drew Barcelona level before half-time (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)Ancelotti's desperation shows
Cool, calm and collected he may look, but Carlo Ancelotti was desperate beneath his surface. While Real Madrid's quest to retain the Champions League is going swimmingly, their bid to do the same with the La Liga title was looking shallow as the closing stages dawned, and now looks all but dead in the water.
Despite being the side who were at that stage nine points clear, Barcelona continual forced the issue in the second half and Los Blancos couldn't get a grip of possession. After making a double substitution on the hour mark, Ancelotti soon called for a triple change in the 77th minute - including bringing on Marco Asensio.
Carlo Ancelotti used all five of his substitutions in an effort to wrestle back control of the game (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)Asensio controversially denied super sub role
Within four minutes of entering the fray, Marco Asensio made the impact that Ancelotti dreamed of and scored what seemed like a late winner for Real Madrid. Calmly converting Dani Carvajal's cross, the strike got past Ten Stegen but not VAR.
On the naked eye it looked level, but when the dreaded lines were drawn, it was shown that the Spain international was marginally offside - not that Carlo Ancelotti seems to believe it, questioning the decision in his post-match press conference. Cheers of relief from the home crowd came when the offside decision was announced, but the Culers were about to have something else to celebrate.
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Marcos Asensio thought he'd scored the winner for Real Madrid but VAR ruled his goal out (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Have your say! Is the LaLiga title race over? Join the debate in the comments section.
Kessie the hero
While it wasn't Asensio who proved to the hero from the bench, it certainly was Franck Kessie! Xavi's first sub saved the day with a late winner - courtesy of brilliant build-up play involving a beautiful backheel from Lewandowski, and Alejandro Balde's pinpoint pull-back - which means that Barcelona are now 12 points clear of old foes with as many games remaining.
"The title is not over yet," Barca's Frenkie de Jong told Viaplay after full-time. Tell that to the Camp Nou tonight.
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