Barcelona’s hopes of winning a fourth successive league title appear to be dashed after their defeat by Real Madrid at the Nou Camp means that they are now seven points adrift with matches running out.It was a make or break match and for once it wasn’t Barca’s night as they never managed to dominate the el clasico as they have done in recent meetings with Madrid.
Sami Khedira put Madrid after 17 minutes and while hope was raised mid-way through the second half when Alexis Sanchez put Barca back on level terms, within minutes Cristiano Ronaldo had got Madrid’s second and his 42nd goal of the season.
Barca do have the chance to respond almost immediately though with a crunch Champions League semi-final second leg with Chelsea just round the corner.
It was unusual to see Pep Guardiola starting with a three-man defence but it shows that he has lost a lot of confidence in Gerard Pique who has also been struggling with a niggling injury in recent weeks. Perhaps with Chelsea and the Champions League in mind, Cesc Fabregas was also on the bench along with Alexis Sanchez who was not fit enough for 90 minutes.
There was an early scare at the back for Barca with a Ronaldo header tipped over the crossbar but at the other end keeper Iker Casillas had to race off his line after a back-pass almost allowed in Dani Alves.
The warning signs were there with Benzema having a shot from the edge of the area saved but Madrid took the lead from corner when Valdes couldn’t gather a Pepe header and Khedira scrambled the ball home.
Casillas saved well to deny Xavi inside the area but Barca were not carrying their usual menace in attack with Messi looking quiet.
Guardiola’s men stepped up a gear though as the half progressed and unsurprisingly it was Messi who was the instigator, pinging the ball to the wings from his central position but the goal evaded them.
As the rain came down the title was slipping out of Barca’s reach and a woeful attempt from Tello which went well over the bar from 12 yards out did little to improve the atmosphere in the stadium.
Xavi had a shot from 25 yards which went a yard wide and then was taken off which was no real surprise as he wasn’t at his best and Guardiola wants him fresh for Chelsea.
The change was inspirational as Alexis coming on immediately grabbed the equaliser.
A Tello shot and then a Thiago shot were both blocked by Casillas who could do nothing about the follow up from Alexis who tucked the ball in from close range.
The reply was swift from Madrid on the counter-attack as Mesut Ozil found Ronaldo who took one touch and slotted the ball past the keeper.
A disappointing night for Barca and the question can be raised again why Guardiola insists on a three-man defence with the team never at its best playing this way.
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