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Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: El Clasico result and final score as hosts crumble after Aubameyang goal

Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice on a wonderful night for Xavi as the hosts were humbled at the Bernabeu

Michael Jones
Monday 21 March 2022 17:16 GMT
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Xavi plots upset in El Clasico against La Liga leaders Real Madrid

Follow live reaction as Barcelona produced a sublime performance to stun rivals Real Madrid and claim a 4-0 win in El Clasico at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid came into the match well clear at the top of La Liga and 15 points ahead of Barcelona in the table, but the visitors produced their best performance of the season so far under new manager Xavi.

Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice on his first El Clasico appearance with Ferran Torres and Ronald Araujo also on target as Xavi’s side strenthened their Champions League qualification hoeps with a famous win.

Real Madrid, who were missing Karim Benzema, were a shambles defensively but Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain in control of the title race after second-place Sevilla dropped points for the third match in a row earlier on Sunday.

Follow all the reaction from the 249th El Clasico below

Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in a curious Clasico missing key ingredients

It’s always a fixture which captures the attention of the world of football and this weekend will probably be no different in that respect, but in many others it will be.

This is still El Clasico, but not quite as we know it. La Liga’s big two go head to head at the Santiago Bernabeu with a rivalry which has stretched back so many notable matches, trophies and groups of players as to be ingrained in most football fans’ memories in one way or another. But there are so many elements of that famously hard-fought encounter missing this time around that it could well seem and feel like a different game.

That isn’t to be altogether negative about the situation either, only realistic - there’s every chance that the missing ingredients simply make this more of a football event, where talent and slightly longer-term objectives take precedence over bragging rights...although probably not for both sections of fans, of course.

Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in a curious Clasico missing key ingredients

The two giants of Spanish football clash on Sunday night but there’s not quite as much direct competition between them - which could actually turn out to be a positive

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:34

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Karim Benzema misses the game with a calf injury. He’ll be greatly missed by Real Madrid as the Frenchman has netted 22 times in the domestic championship plus ten goals in other competitions this yead, and he also leads La Liga for assists with 11.

(Getty Images)
Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:30

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Barcelona coach, Xavi, says he has a gameplan to deal with ‘chameleonic’ Real Madrid. Speaking to the press yesterday he said:

Madrid are chameleonic. You don’t know if they’ll push forward or keep it tight as a unit. It’s hard to know what to expect. We just have to try to keep the ball and impose our ideas but we’ll need to be prepared for anything.”

"We competed against them in the Super Cup and could have won. Since losing to Bayern [Munich] we have been getting better and more competitive with every game … I won’t make big changes for this game … I’m very clear about my plan, you’ll see tomorrow. But we have hardly had any time to train since Thursday.”

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:26

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Barcelona have not lost any of their last 10 away La Liga games (five wins and five draws) with nine of those games coming up manager Xavi Hernandez (five wins, four draws).

Xavi could become only the second Barcelona coach to be unbeaten in his first 10 away games in La Liga after Ernesto Valverde who did not lose any of his first 18 (12 wins, six draws).

(Getty Images)
Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:23

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Barcelona have more wins (10-8) and have scored more goals (41-34) than Real Madrid in LaLiga El Clasico matches played in Madrid in the 21st century.

However, Barcelona have lost their last two visits and could suffer three defeats in a row for the first time this century.

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:19

Karim Benzema a Real Madrid injury doubt ahead of El Clasico

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is out of Sunday’s ‘El Clasico’ against Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu after LaLiga’s top scorer suffered a calf injury.

The France striker was injured after grabbing an assist and two late goals as LaLiga leaders Real Madrid defeated Mallorca 3-0 on Monday.

Real will host bitter rivals Barca with the opportunity to strengthen their hold on the title race and further boost their morale after their epic come-from-behind last-16 Champions League win over Paris St Germain last week.

Karim Benzema a Real Madrid injury doubt ahead of El Clasico

The French striker has been in red-hot form for Los Blancos but could miss the big weekend fixture in Spain

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:15

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti, spoke about the significance of El Clasico and what it takes to win Europe’s most important derby. He said:

It’s all about commitment, discipline and quality. It’s a very demanding game. It’s El Clásico, a special game and we’ll have to be at our best. The team’s in good shape, we’ve worked hard and are feeling confident.

"It’s a game where we want to be at our best. We’re going to have to produce a strong all-round performance because we’re up against a very strong side.

“We can’t go thinking that doing just one thing well will be enough to win the game. We’ll have to defend well, press well, be good on the ball, play out well from the back and be direct... it’ll need to be an all-round performance”.

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:10

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Real Madrid have won their last five games with Barcelona in all competitions. Only Los Blancos, with seven wins between April 1962 and February 1965, have achieved a better run in the history of El Clasico.

No side in Europe’s big five leagues have suffered fewer defeats than Real Madrid since the start of last season (6, level with Inter Milan).

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:05

Son Heung-min bags a brace as Tottenham close in on top four with West Ham win

Son Heung-min’s double saw Tottenham register a huge win in the race for Champions League qualification as they beat West Ham 3-1.

The South Korean scored twice, having also been involved in Kurt Zouma’s own goal, as Spurs made it four Premier League victories from five to close the gap on fourth-placed Arsenal.

They are now three points behind the Gunners, who have a game in hand but still have to visit their north London rivals in a clash that is yet to be rescheduled.

Son Heung-min bags a brace as Tottenham close in on top four with West Ham win

Spurs are now three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, while West Ham are six points behind the Gunners.

Michael Jones20 March 2022 19:00

Son reacts to Tottenham’s win

Back to the Tottenham Hotspurs stadium where Spurs matchwinner, Son Heung-min, has been elaborating on his relationship with Harry Kane, telling Sky Sports:

Before the international break it is always good to win the game and go away with a free mind. Hopefully we are ready to go again when we come back.

“I just make the runs as an option for [Harry] Kane. If he doesn’t pass me the ball he might have the space to pass to someone else or to shoot.

“It’s incredible to have this striker next to me. I feel really sorry for him today that he didn’t score. He looked sad. I feel sad for him as a striker, you want to score everything.”

Michael Jones20 March 2022 18:56

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