Barcelona: Barcelona moved 12 points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday thanks to Frank Casey’s late goal to grab a 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid.
The victory dashed Madrid’s title retention ambitions and left the Catalans close to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2019.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real took the lead through Ronald Araujo’s own goal but Barcelona equalized when Sergi Roberto headed home just before half-time.
Both sides had chances to win the game and Marco Asensio scored for Madrid, but VAR ruled the goal offside before Alejandro Balde upset Casey in the 92nd minute.
The build-up to the match was overshadowed by Barcelona’s allegations of corruption in the “Caso Negrera” refereeing scandal.
Madrid last week joined Spanish prosecutors in a complaint against Barcelona and their president Florentino Perez called off the game for the first time in more than 20 years, amid rising tensions between the two Spanish giants.
He fed the intensity of the match, both on and off the pitch, in Xavi’s sixth Clasico as Barcelona coach but his first at the Camp Nou.
Xavi asked the fans to turn the stadium into a pressure cooker and they responded, selling it out, taking Madrid by storm and conjuring one of the best atmospheres of the season.
Madrid failed to manage a single shot on target in their Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg defeat to Barcelona in early March, but Karim Benzema clipped Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s palms in the first minute.
Robert Lewandowski responded at the other end by testing Thibaut Courtois as the veteran marksmen exchanged shots.
When Barcelona conceded the opening goal of the game, it was friendly fire. Araujo deflected Vinicius’ cross at the near post with Ter Stegen helpless.
Araujo, playing at right-back to counter the Brazilian, has enjoyed his pairing with Vinicius in the past but this time the winger prevailed, albeit fortunately. Barcelona supporters were enraged by his massive celebration in front of them.
It was the first goal from open play that Barcelona had conceded at La Liga’s Camp Nou all season, and only their second at home and ninth overall.
Courtois, who made an excellent save to keep out an early Raphinha header, could only see Andreas Christensen meet another cross unmarked, but nodded off target.
The Denmark centre-back went close again with a sharp effort from a corner, before Courtois headed another stinging Raphinha drive, the Brazilian tipped in an overdrive down the right in Ousmane Dembele’s absence.
Barcelona complained that defender Nacho, already booked, should have been sent off for a handoff at Rafinha.
The hosts didn’t get their wish but were building steam and got the breakthrough from an unlikely source just before half-time.
Substituted for injured midfielder Padre, Sergi Roberto was in the right place at the right time to control a loose ball in the box and arc past Courtois.
Barcelona had significantly more possession and significantly more chances than they did in the cup win against Madrid.
Lewandowski sent a deflected piledriver as Madrid sank, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to roll the dice and bring on Rodrigo and Ferland Mendy.
It paid almost immediate dividends as Madrid robbed Sergio Busquets and Rodrygo hit inches over the bar.
Madrid substitute Asensio fired home what could have been the winner but the goal was ruled out for offside after a nervous wait for VAR instructions.
Barcelona looked satisfied with the draw but Casey’s last-gasp strike sparked wild celebrations at the Camp Nou.
