Madrid Tops Spanish League Standings After Winning El Clasico

Madrid Striker Karim Benzema (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid won el Clasico 2-1 over Barcelona in the 30th week of the Spanish League match at the Alfredo Stadium in Stefano, Madrid, Saturday local time. The victory took Madrid to the top of the standings.

Karim Benzema's heel goal and Toni Kroos' free-kick supported Real Madrid's victory when Barcelona could only retaliate once through Oscar Mingueza who marked his El Clasico debut with a goal.

Real Madrid's success in dominating two editions of El Clasico this season brought Zinedine Zidane's team temporarily to the top of the table, displacing Atletico Madrid with a head-to-head advantage, although both teams collected 66 points. Barcelona with 65 points dropped to third.

Los Blancos opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Benzema greeted Lucas Vazquez's pull-back with a heel of his right foot to deceive goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barcelona, who were still struggling to create chances, conceded again in the 28th minute through Kroos' free-kick, which hit Sergino Dest's back and failed to reach Jordi Alba's crossbar.

Six minutes later, the hosts almost widened their lead if Federico Valverde's cross did not hit the post and Vazquez's ball was deflected off by Ter Stegen.

Real Madrid's superiority continued to be maintained, but Los Blancos had to pay dearly as Vazquez had to enter the dressing room early in the 43rd minute due to injury.

Lionel Messi almost scored a counter-attacking goal for Barca, as he attempted to welcome Ousmane Dembele's cross, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was quick to secure the home team's lead.

Barcelona tried to increase the intensity of their attack in the second half and Ronald Koeman changed the formation to 3-4-3 by pulling out Dest in place of Antoine Griezmann.

The change came to be effective when Mingueza converted Alba's cross to reduce Barca's lead to 1-2 in the 60th minute. Real Madrid tried to give an instant answer two minutes later, but Vinicius Junior's chances still hit the post.

The hosts were forced to settle for 10 men as Casemiro received a second yellow card after fouling Mingueza, and the 11-on-10 situation was optimally exploited by Barca in the remaining time.

Madrid instead had to play with ten men after Casemiro was shown a second yellow card in the 90th minute, after fouling Mingueza.

In the penalty box Real Madrid came right in the last minute of injury time, but Illaiz Moriba's shot hit the crossbar, then ter Stegen's throw-in hit his own partner Francisco Trincao and a last-minute attempt from Alba bounced over the crossbar, sealing a 2–1 home win.