Spanish La Liga
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Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores twice in El Clasico

By Emlyn BegleyBBC Sport

Barcelona boss Xavi will not rule out a remarkable late push for the La Liga title after his side's thrashing of runaway leaders Real Madrid in a statement win at the Bernabeu.

Real, who had won the previous five Clasicos, are nine points clear of Sevilla with nine matches to go, with third-placed Barcelona a further three behind with a game in hand.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice on his Clasico debut and set up Ferran Torres.

Aubameyang and Ronald Araujo headed in crosses from Ousmane Dembele before the break and Aubayemang then flicked the ball into the path of Torres for their third.

Ex-Arsenal striker Aubayemang chipped in a fourth from a Torres pass.

Barca are now unbeaten in 12 games and Xavi said: "I don't know if we can win the title, we can't rule out anything. Maybe we're a bit late, but this is a very big win for us.

"We were much better than Real Madrid. We played almost as a home team in the the ground. It's a day to enjoy, not only as a Barca manager but also a fan.

"We could easily have scored five or six. We changed our negative dynamic of losing the last few Clasicos."

Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets added: "If we still have a small chance to make a run for the title, we will fight until the end. It's very difficult but in football anything can happen. We are Barca."

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti took responsibility for the heavy loss, saying "it's my fault" - but urging his team to "forget it and move on".

Aubameyang adds momentum to Xavi revolution

The Football News Show: Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi

Barcelona have looked a completely different proposition since Xavi replaced Ronald Koeman in November, losing only once in La Liga in that time - and that defeat was more than three months ago.

Their winter signings from the Premier League have transformed them too, Aubameyang from Arsenal, Torres from Manchester City and Adama Traore from Wolves.

Only Memphis Depay (10 goals) has scored more than Aubameyang (nine) and Torres (five) for Barcelona this season.

It is surely too late for a title challenge, but this landmark result shows Barca are back - and could be in contention for the big trophies next season.

They blew Real Madrid away for their first Clasico win in three years and biggest league win at the Bernabeu since 2015. The impressive Dembele, booed by his own fans just weeks ago after failing to leave in January, set up the opening two goals.

Araujo had been chosen to start at right-back instead of Dani Alves to deal with the threat of Vinicius Jr, but ended up on the scoresheet himself.

Aubameyang set up Torres with a delightful backheel pass and chipped in their fourth himself, a goal initially ruled out for offside but given by the video assistant referee.

They wasted many chances to score more, with Aubameyang and Torres having six shots each.

"We'll see where we can go from here after this big victory," Aubameyang said.

"I was very excited to come to Barcelona and do well. It's very easy when you play with such good players."

Madrid suffer without Benzema's brilliance

Real boss Ancelotti will just hope this is a blip.

They were missing the injured Karim Benzema, who has been the outstanding player in La Liga this season with 22 goals and 11 assists.

Real might not have expected to have missed him quite this much though. They started without a recognised striker but Mariano Diaz's half-time introduction did not make things any better.

In fact, Ancelotti's substitutions at the break were a disaster as he changed his side's shape too.

"We started the second half trying to play one against one at the back - three defenders against their three forwards - but it didn't work. I can only apologise to the fans," the Italian said.

It would have been even worse for Real if not for keeper Thibaut Courtois, who made six saves.

Most of the home side's chances came after the scoreline was 4-0 and Barca had missed several attempts for a fifth goal. David Alaba forced a good save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen in one of the better opportunities.

It is not time to panic though. This was only their third league defeat all season and they are still in control of the title race.

"It's a very tough blow to lose this way," Ancelotti added. "We know we have a good lead at the top of the table. We can't make dramas about this game - we have to move forward."

Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation 4-2-4-0

  • 1Courtois
  • 2CarvajalSubstituted forMarianoat 45'minutes
  • 3Militão
  • 4Alaba
  • 6NachoSubstituted forVázquezat 63'minutesBooked at 88mins
  • 14Casemiro
  • 8KroosBooked at 22minsSubstituted forCamavingaat 45'minutesBooked at 82mins
  • 21RodrygoSubstituted forAsensioat 64'minutes
  • 10ModricBooked at 63mins
  • 15Valverde
  • 20Vinícius Júnior

Substitutes

  • 5Vallejo
  • 7E Hazard
  • 11Asensio
  • 12Marcelo
  • 13Lunin
  • 16Jovic
  • 17Vázquez
  • 19Ceballos
  • 22Isco
  • 24Mariano
  • 25Camavinga
  • 45Piñeiro del Álamo

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1ter Stegen
  • 4Araújo
  • 3Piqué
  • 24García
  • 18AlbaBooked at 74minsSubstituted forAlves da Silvaat 86'minutes
  • 21F de JongBooked at 26minsSubstituted forGaviat 71'minutes
  • 5BusquetsBooked at 31mins
  • 16PedriSubstituted forGonzález Iglesiasat 86'minutesBooked at 88mins
  • 7DembéléSubstituted forTraoréat 80'minutes
  • 25AubameyangSubstituted forDepayat 71'minutes
  • 19F Torres

Substitutes

  • 6Puig Martí
  • 8Alves da Silva
  • 9Depay
  • 11Traoré
  • 12Braithwaite
  • 13Neto
  • 14González Iglesias
  • 15Lenglet
  • 17L de Jong
  • 22Mingueza
  • 30Gavi
  • 36Tenas
Referee:
Juan Martínez Munuera
Attendance:
60,017

Match Stats

Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamBarcelona
Possession
Home40%
Away60%
Shots
Home14
Away18
Shots on Target
Home4
Away10
Corners
Home4
Away3
Fouls
Home9
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Real Madrid 0, Barcelona 4.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Real Madrid 0, Barcelona 4.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by David Alaba.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Adama Traoré (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).

  7. Post update

    Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  8. Booking

    Nico González (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  9. Booking

    Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  10. Post update

    Gavi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).

  12. Post update

    Foul by Nico González (Barcelona).

  13. Post update

    Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Nico González (Barcelona).

  15. Post update

    Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Barcelona. Nico González replaces Pedri.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Barcelona. Dani Alves replaces Jordi Alba.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).

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Scores, Results & Fixtures

Sunday 20th March 2022

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Real Madrid29206359253466
2Sevilla291512240192157
3Barcelona28159456292754
4Atl Madrid29166753361754
5Real Betis29155950351550
6Real Sociedad2913972929048
7Villarreal29129848272145
8Ath Bilbao29101183328541
9Valencia29101094243-140
10Osasuna29108112936-738
11Celta Vigo2999113332136
12Espanyol2999113541-636
13Rayo Vallecano2895142934-532
14Elche2988133040-1032
15Getafe29611122733-629
16Granada29610133146-1528
17Cádiz29512122541-1627
18Mallorca2968152649-2326
19Alavés2957172348-2522
20Levante29310163158-2719
View full Spanish La Liga table