El Clasico: Barcelona-Real Madrid as it happened on social media
Barcelona. Real Madrid. MSN. BBC. Need we say more?
Two of Spain's most prolific sides returned from the international break and converged in a battle of No. 1 vs No. 3 in La Liga on Saturday. Following a 4-0 demolition at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier in the season, Los Blancos were aiming to exact revenge on their bitter rivals.
With Lionel Messi starting this time around, searching for his 500th goal (club and country), the Catalans, with a win, would have stretched their lead atop the league to 13 points. But Real answered with a 2-1, come-from-behind victory.
Here's how this one played out on social media:
?? #FCB XI
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 2, 2016
13. Bravo
3. Piqué
4. Rakitic
5. Sergio
6. Alves
8. Iniesta
9. Suárez
10. Messi
11. Neymar
14. Mascherano
18. Jordi Alba#FCBlive
¡Este es nuestro once inicial para el Clásico! ⚽?#RMClasico #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/j5zfU9Iz8g
— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) April 2, 2016
In the wake of the passing of Johan Cruyff nine days prior, tributes poured in as the soccer world mourned the death of the Dutch great and Barcelona legend, and it only continued at the Camp Nou. Barcelona players donned special kits, the club produced a moving, pre-match video and a stunning tifo was created to honor one of the founding fathers of "Total Football".
?? FC Barcelona's El Clásico jersey to commemorate Johan Cruyff: https://t.co/iPY2B6pu4G #ElClasico #GraciesJohan pic.twitter.com/54EsLVce59
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 2, 2016
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) April 2, 2016
14th minute: The Camp Nou crowds honours Cruyff. #GràciesJohan pic.twitter.com/CxrJneiOqi
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 2, 2016
HUGE chance! Luis Suarez spurns a big opportunity to put the hosts in front (stick around for the golden commentary at the end. You'll thank us.):
HOW DOES @LUISSUAREZ9 MISS THIS?! #ElClasico https://t.co/FmuEiGSWay
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
Just minutes later, Sergio Ramos -- already on a yellow card, mind you -- trips up Lionel Messi on the edge of the area. Lucky boy!
Was Messi fouled on this play by @SergioRamos? #ElClasico https://t.co/q1Jff6y6vl
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
Penalty? Looks outside the box. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/Xz7YUOn2sW
— KICKTV (@KICKTV) April 2, 2016
HALFTIME: Barcelona 0, Real Madrid 0. All square at the break, and not so "Clasico" thus far.
Not got going this yet. Not much quality in that 1st half. Well apart from Zidane's jacket. That is pure quality. #ElClasico
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) April 2, 2016
#FACTICO - Last Madrid victory in La Liga at Camp Nou after a 0-0 at HT was 36 years ago (0-2, Feb 10th 1980)
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) April 2, 2016
Stop it, Keylor Navas. Just stop it. You're not likely to see a better save this weekend than this sprawling stop to deny Messi.
This save by @navaskeylor is beyond amazing. Messi can't even believe it! #ElClasico https://t.co/YqyI0Lgszc
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
GOAL, Barcelona! We have liftoff! Gerard Pique rises highest above Pepe and powers home Ivan Rakitic's corner kick for his second goal of the season. 1-0!
GOAAAAAL! @3gerardpique loses @officialpepe and SLAMS IN A HEADER! @FCbarcelona in the lead. #ElClasico https://t.co/awISUGBIsd
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
Gaaaaaaaaaaal de Piqué 1-0 #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/NwG7mn1YJg
— Reacción Fútbol (@ReaccionFut) April 2, 2016
Real Madrid have kept just 1 clean sheet in their last 9 La Liga matches. pic.twitter.com/9TexRA8UD1
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 2, 2016
GOAL, Real Madrid! A deflected cross finds its way to Karim Benzema, who pulls out his tricks and slams home with an incredible bicycle kick. That'll do!
GOAAAAAL!! GOLAZO! @Benzema just scored THIS and the game is back level. #ElClasico https://t.co/0U78n7z52i
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
That Karim Benzema #ElClasico goal, though. pic.twitter.com/4cLM5Gb9lj
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 2, 2016
Karim Benzema has now scored 21 league goals for Real Madrid this season, only Cristiano Ronaldo has more (28). pic.twitter.com/F90LnFGvAY
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 2, 2016
GOA-NO! Gareth Bale sees his go-ahead goal ruled out for a foul on Jordi Alba.
Were @RealMadrid and @GarethBale11 robbed here? #ElClasico https://t.co/K2AmUwazNg
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
Are you serious?!?!?
— IAN PAUL JOY (@JOYPAULIAN) April 2, 2016
Perfectly legitimate goal by Gareth Bale in my opinion!!! #ElClasico
RED CARD! Sergio Ramos' luck runs out. And, it was certainly coming...
Bye Bye @SergioRamos. Another foul, another yellow. @RealMadrid down to 10 #ElClasico https://t.co/GEX2NYte4g
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
That is red card number 21 in his career #sergioramos
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) April 2, 2016
GOAL, Real Madrid! And it's that man, Cristiano Ronaldo with a wonderful chest-down and finish for the match-winner.
GOAAAAAL! It's in from @Cristiano. The Dark Invader has @RealMadrid in the lead! #ElClasico https://t.co/HTIGRy0aT7
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
Here's the replay for that @Cristiano goal #ElClasico https://t.co/1joFE6OskK
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 2, 2016
Holy ? #ElClasico
— Rachel Bonnetta (@rachelbonnetta) April 2, 2016
FULL TIME: Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 2. Goals from Benzema and Ronaldo pull 10-man Real ... back in the title race? Say it ain't so!
FT: Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 2. Ronaldo's winner sees 10-man Real snap Barca's 39-game undefeated streak. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/DVKhLGXjS6
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 2, 2016
Well, this isn't happening...
But it's safe to say Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson is going home happy.
