VAR doesn’t miss a trick and Sergio Ramos doesn’t miss penalties. Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou because Clement Lenglet’s shirt pull on Ramos was spotted by the Video Assistant Referee and Ramos scored his 25th straight spot kick.
Real Madrid had taken the lead after just five minutes and it was the type of sweeping move that had been the undoing of Zinedine Zidane’s team in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Nacho moved the ball forward to Karim Benzema who played in Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan had pointed where he wanted the pass and he duly ran on to it and buried it past Neto.
The lead lasted just three minutes. Messi had dropped deep and took a short pass from Frenkie de Jong. He lifted his head and saw Alba who had got behind Nacho. Alba crossed for Ansu Fati who had got in front of Ramos to score from close range.
Madrid responded well with Neto saving from Benzema after he finished first time from a Toni Kroos cross.
Barcelona came out more brightly for the second period and, having fed Fati, Messi cursed him for not returning the pass and instead shooting just wide. Fati then turned generous provider but Coutinho headed the cross into the side netting.
But Barcelona’s good restart was all undone when Lenglet pulled Ramos’ shirt in the area and referee Martinez went to the pitch-side monitor. Was the tug enough to stop Ramos reaching the cross? Probably not but the image was clear – Lenglet had a handful of Ramos’ shirt and the spot-kick was given.
Lenglet is very good defender, he would be an even better one without VAR. Ramos rolled the ball under Neto’s body to put his team ahead.
Madrid threatened on the break and Neto had to save well from Kroos and Ramos. He couldn’t keep out substitute Luka Modric’s late third goal for Madrid.
Credit: dailymail.co.uk
The post Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid: Ramos steps up again to score the winner in the Clasico appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS