This is the sixth time FC Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid by five goals margin in La Liga, first time since 8 January 1994. Barcelona leapfrogged Real Madrid at the top of the league, going two points clear in La Liga. But, it was an incredible statement
to their rivals, not just beating but outclassing Madrid in every department.
Gonzalo Higuain had not recovered from injury in time to play at the Camp Nou, so Frenchman Karim Benzema started as a lone striker up front.
In opening exchanges, Barca had most of the possession; first real chance fell to Barca and they made most of it, as they played a corner to the penalty spot, where Xavi's shot was blocked. It came out to an angle on the right, where Lionel Messi clipped
a stunning shot against the far post, with Iker Casillas beaten. It was an ideal start for the home team and who else but Catalan hero Messi to put them ahead. Barca were up a goal in opening 10 minutes.
Barcelona had a slight concern over keeper Victor Valdes, Cristiano Ronaldo crossed from the right and Valdes picked up, but fell into Gerard Pique while gathering the ball. He needed some treatment, but was good enough to continue.
It was an action packed matched, Lionel Messi was brought down but it was a fair challenge from Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid broke, a move which ended with Angel di Maria's vicious shot being punched over by Victor Valdes.
Barcelona were all over Real, a soaked Jose Mourinho looked stunned. The ball was played out to the left where David Villa had space to drive at Sergio Ramos - his cross flicked off the defender, Iker Casillas didn’t got hold of it and there was Pedro, a
man who always seems to know exactly where to stand, he knocked it in from point-blank range. Camp Nou erupted with jubilation.
The noise reached a crescendo as Cristiano Ronaldo pushed Pep Guardiola, who had the ball in his hand. The Barca players, caring for their coach, were absolutely seething, and they forcibly argued with Ronaldo was booked and so was Victor Valdes.
Cristiano Ronaldo showed a hint of brilliance when he slammed the free-kick few inches wide of Victor Valdes's right-hand post. Barca broke with Lionel Messi and Pepe was clambering all over the Argentine and he picked up a booking too.
It was a bad-tempered end to the half, but no one could argue with the score because Barca ripped Real Madrid apart with a scintillating display of attacking Football. Real brought on Lassana Diarra for Mesut Ozil after restart.
Barca started from where they left-off with Lionel Messi leading the charge as he cut in from the right, drilled a shot with his left foot, it was blocked and fell for David Villa, who had a goal bound effort superbly saved by Iker Casillas. Moments later
Messi thought he scored when he had the ball in the net, but the whistle had already gone for a foul.
Lionel Messi played one of the most majestic passes you could ever see, from halfway, split the Real defence in two and enabled David Villa to run through and fire between the legs of Iker Casillas. The defending wasn’t very good, but was something remarkably
special from Barca. Jose Mourinho looked clueless.
Minute’s later Barca put game beyond Real and vanished Real hopes as Lionel Messi cut in from the right again and again waited until the perfect moment to slip in David Villa - Real Madrid thought Villa was offside, he was marginally on - and he fired past
Iker Casillas.
Jeffren came on for Pedro, the youngster wrapped up the scoring in injury time. Bojan did brilliantly down the right and curled a low cross that evaded Andres Iniesta and Jeffren converted from 10 yards. Ramos was shown a red card in closing seconds as he
latched into Messi, and then shoved Carles Puyol to the floor. He was sent off.
Barcelona isn’t perfect, but they might just be the greatest football team we get to watch for many, many years. They made Real Madrid looked distinctly ordinary, and ordinary they are not.
Real coach Jose Mourinho conceded his team wasn’t good enough last night but refused to throw-in the towel,
“One team played very good, one team very bad. Deserved win, deserved loss. Humiliated? No. It's easy to deal with this loss, we just weren't good enough”, he told reporters after the game.
Barca coach Guardiola heaped praise on his side for playing breath-taking football, he said,
“This wasn't a definitive result when it comes to who will win the league but we did define for the entire world how it is we like to play football.”
Tags: