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Tuesday, December 24, 2024  
21 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446  

El Clasico: Ronaldo shines as Real down Barcelona 2-1

 SPAIN (NOU CAMP): A 73rd minute goal from Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid to end their 4 year losing draught over Barcelona. Real Madrid have not one a La Liga match against their main rival since the past 4 years.

Jose Mourinho's side travelled to the Camp Nou with a 4 point lead but their victory over arch rivals Barcelnoa has now taken them seven points clear of their bitter rivals in the La Liga with four games remaining. With the La Liga ending, Real Madrid are now considered to be the strongest contenders to become the champions in Spain.

The match at the Nou Camp started on a rain-lashed night. Real Madrid were quick enough to take the lead through Sami Khedira when he drove the ball into the net once it had been saved by Valdes off Pepe's header.

Barcelona responded to the lead by equalising in the 70th minute through Alexis Sanchez but that lead was not long-lived as Ronaldo scored brilliantly after receiveing the ball from the right wing through Ozil's cross within the next 3 minutes.

Club president Florentino Perez hired Mourinho to end Barca's Spanish and European domination and there was a sense after Saturday's result that a shift in the balance of power between the two world powerhouses could be imminent. 

Real have to overturn a 2-1 deficit at home to Bayern Munich on Wednesday if they are to reach next month's Champions League final and if holders Barca can get past Chelsea, who beat them 1-0 in London this week, they will face a swaggering Real side filled with new confidence in another exuberant 'Clasico'.