El Clasico: Real Madrid defeat Barcelona at Camp Nou

October 24, 2020 5:40 pm

Real Madrid scored twice in the second half to defeat Barcelona 3-1 away at Camp Nou, thanks to goals from Ernesto Valverde, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric.

In the 279th El Clasico meeting between both teams and first of the season, it was Real Madrid that got the better of Barcelona to claim their 100th win of the bitter rivalry.

The Zinedine Zidane-led team also earned their first back-to-back win over Barcelona for the first time in 12 years — since 2008.

Real Madrid drew first blood with the opening goal in the fifth minute through Ernesto Valverde. The Uruguayan midfielder got a pass from Karim Benzema and duly dispatched high to the roof of the net for 1-0.

The lead, however, lasted only three minutes as the Blaugrana equalised through Ansu Fati, their wonderkid.

The 17-year-old Spaniard was on hand to dispatch Jordi Alba’s cutback after the left-back was sent free by a long ball over the top.

Fati’s goal means he has broken the youngest El Clasico goalscorer record at 17 years and 359 days, dismantling Real Madrid’s Raul Gonzalez’s record (18 years 95 days) — set in 1995.

Barcelona started the second period the more dangerous side and went close with chances for Fati and Philipe Coutinho, both missing the post by inches.

Real Madrid took the lead against the run of play through Ramos’ converted penalty awarded by the video assistant referee (VAR) for a Christian Lenglet shirt tug on the Real Madrid captain inside the box.

The 35-year-old defender dispatched his kick beyond the desperate dive of Neto, Barcelona goalkeeper, for 2-1 scoreline on 63 minutes.

With Ronald Koeman’s side looking apparently tired, Real Madrid grew more in confidence and went close through Kroos (twice), Ramos and Vinicius Jr. — all denied by Neto.

But in the 91st minute, Modric made it 3-1 to finish off Barca.

The 35-year-old Croatian was handed the ball by Rodrygo after Neto had spilled his through ball before dispatching it into the net with the outside of his boot to seal the win.