FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid 5-0 29/11/10

Barca simply the best after Real rout

Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid

 

Xavi and Lionel Messi were both instrumental in the destruction of Real

It was said that Monday night’s game at Camp Nou – hyped like few other domestic league ties in the history of the game – would settle two raging debates: who are the best team in the world, and who is the best player in the world? If this solitary match could be said to be decisive in that regard, then the judgement was emphatic. It left no room whatsoever for argument.

Barcelona, conducted magisterially by Xavi and Andres Iniesta – the Lennon and McCartney of midfield double acts – and led on the frontline by the clinical talents of Lionel Messi and David Villa, ran riot against Real, inflicting a career-worst defeat on Jose Mourinho – the man recruited by Real this summer to break down Barca’s domestic hegemony after he ended their European supremacy at Inter Milan.

Argentina seek revenge.

Ronaldinho talk to Messi during 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

The Argentines last beat Brazil 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires in June 2005, since when they have lost four and drawn one conceding 13 goals and scoring a mere two.

But coach Sergio Batista will look at a different statistic, no doubt, his Olympic team’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Games semifinals.

Former Barcelona team mates Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho will meet again in Doha having faced each other at the Olympic Games where the Argentine ace inspired Batista’s team to the gold medal.

Messi double sends Barca top

 

Barca's two-goal hero Lionel Messi terrorises the Villarreal defence

Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona overcame an unjust offside decision to beat Villarreal 3-1 at the Nou Camp and move provisionally above fierce rivals Real Madrid – who play Sporting Gijon on Sunday – at the top of the Primera Division table after 11 matches.

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David Villa gave the Catalans the lead after 22 minutes and Pedro thought he had made it two shortly afterwards, but saw his effort ruled out by an erroneous offside decision. Nilmar then levelled for Villarreal as the Nou Camp continued to jeer the officials.

But as he has done so often in the past, Messi came to the Catalans’ rescue with a brilliant goal after 59 minutes and the Argentinian wrapped up the points with a contentious second late on.

Barca and Real agree Monday night Clasico date

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the winner when Barcelona beat Real at the Nou Camp in last season's Clasico

The first ‘Clasico’ of the season between Barcelona and Real Madrid will take place on a Monday night, the Spanish league has confirmed.

The two heavyweights will meet at the Nou Camp on November 29 to avoid a clash with the Catalan elections which take place in Barcelona a day earlier.

A statement on Real’s official website confirmed the news. It read: “The football league has announced the matchday 13 clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played on November 29 at 2100 local time.

“This is due to the 13th round coinciding with the elections for the parliament of Catalonia and the security problems that would create.”