Barcelona closing in on LaLiga and dominating again vs Real Madrid after another Clásico win
The Catalans sealed victory in added time on Sunday and their fortunes in the famous fixture have been transformed since Xavi's arrival, with four of last five going their way
There were exactly 91 minutes on the clock when Franck Kessié’s shot hit the back of the net. The Ivorian midfielder ran to the corner of the pitch at Camp Nou and one by one, his team-mates arrived to join in wild celebrations. It was his first goal in LaLiga and what an important one: the winner, in a Clásico, in added time. More significantly still, it extended Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table to 12 points. The title is all but won.
This was the 253rd Clásico in official matches and Barcelona’s 100th win in the famous fixture. After five without a win prior to Xavi’s arrival as coach, the Blaugrana have now come out on top in four of the last five. Their fortunes, transformed since the former midfielder returned to take the reins in 2021.
Three of those wins have come in 2023. In January, Barça beat Madrid comfortably to win the Supercopa, a first trophy under Xavi and one which looked likely to mark the start of something special at Camp Nou. Two months on, having added two more Clásico victories in the Copa del Rey and LaLiga to that Supercopa success in Riyadh, FCB are on course for a domestic treble.
It is a tremendous turnaround. When Xavi was appointed as Barça coach in November 2021, Barça were ninth in LaLiga. The club was reeling after years of financial mismanagement and fans depressed following the departure of Lionel Messi. The place needed a lift and he has provided it.
In Europe, it has been more difficult. Back-to-back exits in the Champions League group stages represent a real disappointment, but domestically Barça have overtaken Real Madrid and that was evident again in Sunday night’s Clásico.
This was a match Madrid had to win. Victory for Los Blancos would have closed the gap to six points and made the title race interesting with 12 rounds remaining. Instead, the difference is 12 points and Barcelona have shown no signs of letting up.
When Madrid beat Barça to win the season’s first Clásico back in October, Los Blancos moved three points ahead of their rivals. But Barça’s impressive consistency saw them finish the first half of the competition on course for a record total and, allied with Real’s struggles, has seen a 15-point swing since that meeting at the Santiago Bernabéu.
This Barça side is built on firm foundations: Madrid’s goal on Sunday was only the ninth conceded by Xavi’s side in LaLiga all season. And it was unfortunate too, with goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen wrong-footed as Vinícius Júnior’s cross was deflected in off the head of defender Ronald Araújo.
Margins can be fine at this level and after Sergi Roberto had equalised just before half-time with a super shot into the corner after he had pounced on a loose ball in the area, Madrid substitute Marco Asensio thought he had won it with nine minutes remaining – only to be denied as VAR spotted he was just offside.
Instead, it was Kessié’s goal that clinched victory and Barça followed up their 1-0 win in the teams’ Copa del Rey first-leg game at the Bernabéu with another victory. That cup clash had been a sub-standard affair, with unusually low possession for the Blaugrana and no shots on target for Los Blancos. This was much better. Or at least Barcelona were.
“It’s a very important win in a Clásico,” Xavi said. “It’s deserved. We were better: we dominated, created more clear chances. I’m very satisfied. The team gave everything. It gives us morale and confidence. We were really good.”
Xavi was also surprised that his opposite number, Carlo Ancelotti, questioned the offside against Asensio. “It’s a clear offside,” he said. “Without VAR it’s much more difficult. That’s why I like it. It’s fairer. An offside is or it isn’t, that’s why I’m surprised [by Ancelotti’s view].”
The Italian had spoken moments earlier and said: “We didn’t win because of an offside we still have doubts about. Is it offside? I don’t know. We are going back to Madrid with that doubt.”
Nobody else seemed to doubt it, though. And Ancelotti, who said on the eve of this match that he would stay at Madrid for life if it were up to him, is facing scrutiny over his position once again with LaLiga surely now out of reach and his side’s Copa del Rey hopes in the balance after their first-leg loss to Barça at home. As in his first spell in charge, a disappointing second season could bring about his exit once more.
Turning around their Copa semi-final early next month now assumes great importance for Ancelotti and Madrid. Retaining the Champions League would also make it another memorable campaign, but not even Real cannot win it every year.
“We’re sad and we’re hurt,” Ancelotti said. “But proud of the match we played. If we approach our games like that, we will win something at the end of the season.”
Perhaps. But moral victories count for little at a club where winning is all that matters. And the chances of ending the season with a trophy are slimmer after this latest loss.
Barça, meanwhile, can confirm their status as Spain’s best team by winning all the domestic competitions this term. Their priority next season will be improving in Europe, but recent results against Real Madrid show they are on top again in El Clásico – and their fans are loving that.