‘El Clásico’ – Barcelona v Real Madrid Tickets

It is one of the biggest rivalries in sports, between two of the biggest football clubs in the world.

Barcelona have been on top in most of the recent el Clasico’s, including knocking Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, but their next match in Barcelona on 22 Apr could well decide the La Liga title race.  Buy Barcelona v Real Madrid Tickets

The two sides met in December for the first time in the league this season and Barcelona recovered from the quickest El Clasico goal in history to end Real Madrid’s 15-match winning run and land a big blow in the La Liga title race.

Madrid entered the match as favourites based on their 15-match unbeaten run and they got off to a perfect start when Karim Benzema cashed in on a Victor Valdes error after just 23 seconds.

But Barcelona never panicked and showed why they will become FIFA Club World Cup Champions later this month as they fought back and scored three goals, silencing the Bernabeau.

The first and third, scored by Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas, both came 60 seconds after two inexplicably glaring misses from Cristiano Ronaldo, while the second from Xavi came via a huge deflection.

Real Madrid will look back on this game with a lot of regret. They had Barcelona on the ropes early, but were not clinical enough in front of goal. Barcelona’s first and third gals came 60 seconds after two inexplicably glaring misses from Cristiano Ronaldo, who went missing once again in a big game against Barcelona

For Barcelona this was an impressive come from behind victory that was aided by their two summer signings. Pep Guardiola went with Alexis Sanchez instead of David Villa, while Cesc Fabregas also started alongside Xavi and Iniesta in the Barca midfield and both players repaid Guardiola’s trust in then with goal.

Barcelona’s first game from a typical mesmerizing run from Messi that took him past three of four Madrid players. He then threaded a pass through to Alexis who did the rest from just inside the area.

Barcalona’s third came 60 second after Ronaldo unbelievably planted a free header wide of Valdes’ post after a pinpoint Alonso cross. Barca went down the pitch and Fabregas scored got with a terrific diving header after a great ball in from Dani Alves.

It would not be an El Clasico without some controversy and it came right before half-time when Messi, who had already been booked for dissent, tripped Xabi Alonso near the halfway line. At first, it looked like the referee was going to book Messi, but changed his mind and let him go with a warning. Could easily have been a second yellow for Messi, and who knows how that would have changed the game.

2011-12 El Clasico Tickets
22 Apr 2012: Barcelona v Real Madrid - Buy Barcelona v Real Madrid Tickets