The 265th El Clasico match in history went down at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening and the cracker which ended in 1-1, courtesy of Suarez’s and Ramos’ goals sure produced a lot of talking points.
These are 10 of such:
Madrid don’t have any excuse to not win the league
Though the season is some 24 matchdays away from ending, Real Madrid, at every inch, are looking as the La Liga winner for 2016-17 already.
Not just only because of their unbeaten streak and how they claimed important points at Vicente Calderon and Camp Nou. This team has played fine with injuries to almost every member of their starting XI at various points this season.
Nothing should stop them from winning it this term. They have already proven that no team can.
Enrique’s selections leave little to be desired
Many wondered why Mascherano and Gomes were started despite Umtiti and Iniesta receiving the medical all-clears.
Why he also decided to bring on Arda Turan, the same player whose introduction months ago turned the tides in Real Madrid’s favour is anyone’s guess.
He could as well have rested the MSN because of Champions League meeting this week.
Enrique makes such bizarre selection decisions.
Ramos: Where would Madrid be without him
From saving them twice en route to winning the La Decima with decisive goals in the semis and finals, repeating that feat by putting them ahead when they won the Un Decima, scoring the late equalizer that saved them in August’s Super Cup clash against Sevilla to getting them a crucial 1 point at Camp Nou, one can’t help wonder how Madrid would be without their skipper.
Iniesta is the last of Barcelona’s midfield dying breed
Since he picked up a knock against Valencia in August, the Blaugrana have struggled to win games. And their once-super midfield became very ordinary.
It was too until the World Cup winning ace got introduced. He is nearing the end of his career, and Barcelona just can’t get a replacement.
Kovacic is Madrid’s most recent best signing
The 24-year-old arrived from Inter for last summer, and he represents the best deal they have done ever since landing Bale.
He was everywhere at the Camp Nou, and have proven to be an even better option to Casemiro.
Busquets always needs Iniesta to shine
Sergio Busquets had an average game in the 1st half, but it was his 2nd half performance that saw him earned a lot of praises.
And that happened as a result of Iniesta. Even Messi concentrated on his forward role alone as opposed to dropping deep because of Andre.
We can begin to see the best of Busquets again now that Iniesta is back.
Zidane could make history with Real Madrid
He has gone 33 games unbeaten, equalled the best winning streak in the La Liga (16), and now shares the longest unbeaten streak away from Bernabeu (17) with Mourinho.
Are these signs Zizou is about to make history with Real Madrid?
Andre Gomes and Arda Turan are not Barcelona-quality
The duo would have done better cheering their teammates off the bench all match, as nothing particularly impressive came from any of them.
The Turkish even made matters worse by unnecessarily fouling Marcelo to concede the free kick that broke Barcelona’s heart.
Both are good players, but just don’t fit the bill at Camp Nou.
Modric remains world class
While Ramos will earn all the praises in the world for that last-gasp equaliser, forgetting Modric who assisted his goal would be criminalistic.
Anytime Ramos scored his trademark late headers, the Croatian have almost always had a hand in it.
He remains top 3 in the list of most important Madrid players right now and since he arrived from Tottenham.
Not the Clasico we anticipated
Overall, this match really didn’t live up to the expectations and hype, and only that late Madrid goal made it look any interesting and thrilling.
Maybe that’s why it is the El Clasico after all, but this wasn’t what you actually expected. Was it?