Barcelona vs Real Madrid LIVE: El Clasico result and reaction after seven-goal thriller
Barcelona bounce back from Champions League semi-final defeat to win seven-goal thriller in El Clasico
Barcelona got the better of Real Madrid for the fourth time this season - securing the quadruple for the first time since 1982-83 - as they won El Clasico 4-3 to take a huge step towards securing the La Liga title.
Barcelona are now seven points clear of Real Madrid having bounced back in style from Tuesday’s gut-wrenching Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan at San Siro.
With only three La Liga matches remaining Real Madrid are on course for a trophyless season after a disappointing campaign from Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but they went 2-0 up within 15 minutes after a horror start by Barcelona.
Keeper Wojciech Szczesny brought down Kylian Mbappe within the opening five minutes and the striker put the visitors ahead from the spot, doubling their lead ten minutes later. But from there Barca recovered brilliantly, with goals from Eric Garcia and Lamine Yamal and a double by Raphinha completing another stunning comeback inside the first half, before Mbappe secured a hat-trick with the only goal after the restart.
Fermin Lopez looked to have secured a fifth for the hosts in stoppage time before it was disallowed for handball, while Mbappe had a fourth disallowed himself as Real fought back in the closing stages.
Relive all the action here:
NO PENALTY! Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
83 mins: Hansi Flick and the crowd are absolutely furious as the referee decides no penalty. Tchouameni looked like he had absolutely nowhere to go, which is probably why.
Fermin Lopez was also booked at some point, not sure what for.
PENALTY? Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
82 mins: The referee is called to the monitor...
PENALTY? Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
80 mins: Barca want a penalty! Yamal shoots from the right, Courtois palms it away into the path of Ferran Torres, who fires off a shot - but it hits Tchouameni and Barca want a pen for handball.
It’s being checked...
Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
77 mins: Changes for Barca as Hansi Flick wants some fresh legs to see this one out. Olmo comes off for Fermin. Garcia is replaced by the teenager Hector Fort.
CLOSE! Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
76 mins: Raphinha should have a hat-trick! It’s a fabulous ball in by Yamal to Raphinha at the back post, but the Brazil international gets under it and launches over the bar!
Vinicius Junior presses up and Real are showing much more enthusiasm since Mbappe’s third goal. Vazquez lays it off for Brahim Diaz but de Jong makes the crucial block.
Real come again and Szczesny palms away the cross. Think we’re in for a nervy finish.
CLOSE! Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
74 mins: Balde crosses in from the left but it’s cut out by Tchouameni - not far enough, though, as Barca press again.
Now the referee gives a free kick against de Jong and he’s not very happy about that.
Yamal strikes again but Courtois leaps out to collect! Great save.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
70 mins: Real counter; it’s a great ball forward by Modric to Vinicius Junior, who lays it off to Mbappe, and he earns a hat-trick!
There’s a check for offside but it stands. Real back in this!
Barcelona 4-2 Real Madrid
69 mins: Vinicius throws a tantrum as he’s not awarded a free-kick after a duel with a Barca shirt.
Now Torres is through on goal, the flag stays down, but the ball gets away from him as he slides half-heartedly towards Courtois and the keeper - who looks fine - collects; but Torres knew he was offside.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments