Agencies
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice on his Clasico debut and set up Ferran Torres as Barcelona defeated runaway league leaders Real Madrid in an entertaining El Clasico match on Sunday.
According to Reuters, a rejuvenated Barcelona gave a football masterclass to inflict a humiliating 4-0 defeat on rivals Real Madrid, thrashing Carlo Ancelotti’s LaLiga leaders on their own ground.
A sold-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium watched silently as a much-improved Barca under the command of new coach Xavi Hernandez dominated ‘El Clasico’ from the start.
With Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres exposing Real’s defensive frailty on the flanks, Barca opened the scoring in the 29th minute with an Aubameyang header from a Dembele cross.
According to Reuters, Barca kept up the tempo against a disorganised and lifeless Real Madrid and extended their lead when defender Ronald Araujo headed in from a Dembele corner.
Ancelotti tried to change the dynamic, making two substitutions during the break but Barca scored in the first minute of the second half with an angled shot from Torres after a backheel by Aubameyang.
Five minutes later, former Manchester City forward Torres returned the favour, teeing up ex-Arsenal striker Aubameyang for his second goal.
Barca, who extended their unbeaten run to 12 games, had several opportunities to extend their lead, but Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois avoided any further humiliation.
Real, who had won the previous five Clasicos, are nine points clear of Sevilla with nine matches to go, with third-placed Barcelona a further three behind with a game in hand, BBC reported.
They are unbeaten in 12 matches since an extra-time defeat by Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on January 20.
Having fallen as low as ninth in the table when Ronald Koeman was sacked in October, Barca have been revitalised under Xavi.
“I don’t know if we can win the title, we can’t rule out anything. Maybe we’re a bit late, but this is a very big win for us,” BBC quoted Xavi as saying.
“We were much better than Real Madrid. We played almost as a home team in the the ground. It’s a day to enjoy, not only as a Barca manager but also a fan. We could easily have scored five or six. We changed our negative dynamic of losing the last few Clasicos.”
According to BBC, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti took responsibility for the heavy loss, saying “it’s my fault” – but urging his team to “forget it and move on”.
