:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21904145/185945512.0.jpg)
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid: Barca start well, lose control in the second half, then Martino belatedly makes changes to secure the game | Zonal Marking
Gerardo Martino left out both Alexis Sanchez and Pedro Rodriguez, naming Cesc Fabregas as one of his three attackers. Carlo Ancelotti omitted Karim Benzema and brought Gareth Bale into the side. Daniel Carvajal started at right-back, and three nominal three centre-backs were used: Pepe, Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos. Diego Lopez returned in goal. Martino’s starting selection certainly worked better, but Real had a strong period after Ancelotti turned to his bench earlier than Martino.
Press praise for Neymar and Alexis | FC Barcelona
‘Fearful, pitiful. The Madrid paper points the finger of blame firmly at Ancelotti and the referee. It claims that the Madrid boss "made a present of the first half", while the referee had "a disastrous match and ignored a clear penalty on Cristiano with the score at 1-0".
From Maradona to Alexis: Blue Chip goals | FC Barcelona
Alexis Sánchez has ensured his place in the history of the ‘clásicos’ with a beautiful chip in the 76th minute from outside the area that sailed gracefully over a helpless Diego López in the Real Madrid goal. A superb goal that follows in the footsteps of some illustrious Barça players.
Two mid-week league matches await FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
Two league matches in four days. Barça face an atypical week where they’ll play on Tuesday away to Celta Vigo (22.00) and on Friday at home against Espanyol (21.00). The team will train on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva, and at the Camp Nou on Friday morning. The last training session of the week will be on Saturday afternoon at 12.00 at the Ciutat Esportiva.
Sunday morning recovery session | FC Barcelona
The players were back on the training grounds this morning following Saturday night’s win against Real Madrid. However, there’s no time to dwell on the victory with another important league match against Celta Vigo (10 pm) on Tuesday.
Iniesta: "Time to enjoy and savour the victory against Madrid" | FC Barcelona
"At this stage of the season it’s not definitive as there’s a long way to go. It’s true that this kind of match has something extra, an extra motivation. On Tuesday there are another three points in play and if we don’t win that match, what we have done against Madrid won’t mean anything. We have to enjoy it and savour it, and then from Monday think about Vigo".
FC Barcelona B - SD Eibar: The visitors take the Mini (0-2) | FC Barcelona
Barça B picked up their third consecutive defeat at home this Sunday as Eibar fired for two unanswered goals. Eusebio’s men struggled to find the form that led them to victory in Mendizorroza last week as the visiting side employed a strong, physical approach that hampered Barça’s free-flowing style of play. A pivotal play, which led to Eibar’s opener and a Barça player ejected, decided the match.
Atletico thrash Betis to tighten grip on second spot - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Atletico's thumping victory, their ninth in 10 outings this term, trimmed the gap to Barca back to one point after the champions had pulled four clear thanks to a 2-1 win at home to Real Madrid in Saturday's 'Clasico'. It also stretched their lead over third-placed Real to five points and was the latest evidence Diego Simeone's side may be genuine contenders for the title alongside vastly wealthier rivals Barca and Real come the end of the season.
Villarreal too good for Valencia | Sky Sports Football
Only Real Madrid have avoided defeat at El Madrigal so far this season and Valencia could not follow suit as Villarreal scored twice in the opening 22 minutes through Ikechukwu Uche and Hernan Perez before Giovani made it 3-0 just after the break. Valencia gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Ricardo Costa pulled a goal back but Giovani's late second wrapped up a convincing victory for the Yellow Submarine.
Griezmann at the double | Sky Sports Football
The Frenchman doubled his Primera Division tally to four with a goal early in each half as their Andalusian opponents' win-less run since the start of the season was stretched to 10 matches. On-loan Roma left-back Jose Angel scored only the second goal of his career and the first since his senior debut season for Sporting Gijon in 2009 as Sociedad moved up to ninth in the table.
Sevilla maintain winning run | Sky Sports Football
The home side stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches as they moved up to 10th in La Liga table while their lowly opponents, who have lost three of their last five, remain second bottom. Damia Abella was sent off after 35 minutes for Osasuna, while Oriol Riera claimed a late consolation but they were unable to find an equaliser in the closing minutes.