First of the Clasicos Ends in a Draw

The first of four “clasicos” between Barcelona and Real Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium last night. Messi scored from the penalty spot and Cristiano Ronaldo did the same in a game which ended with Real Madrid down to 10 men and Lionel Messi kicking the ball into the Real Madrid fans. Pepe asked Messi if he was “loco” and Messi responded with his hands up as if nothing had happened. If it had been Ronaldo in the Camp Nou surely he would have been yellow or even red carded!

Real Madrid didn’t let Barcelona get into their stride and it showed. Barcelona usually has more possession because of their tight passing but they couldn’t break this Real Madrid side until a dubious penalty was awarded, Albiol sent off and Messi put it in the back of the net.

I don’t care what anyone says but when you send someone off at this level you condition the game. It’s not the first time Mo has had players sent off, you only have to remember Inter Milan last year. The same happened there to Inter against Barcelona and what happened? The game was sentenced with Inter Milan playing from their own half.

Xavi Hernández can complain all he wants about the type of play that Real Madrid put on the field last night but in the end if you can’t break through who’s playing with their head? Real Madrid had more shots at goal than Barcelona and many more corner kicks.

So ends the first of four, Barcelona played with intelligence but Madrid played with their hearts.