Real Madrid picked up a 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clasico earlier tonight.
Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos scored in the first half to give the home side a fantastic platform at the start of the game and Oscar Mingueza’s goal in the second half wasn’t enough for the away side to get something out of the game.
Benzema scored a stunning goal to open the scoring and the Frenchman has now scored 10 goals in his last 9 matches.
Los Blancos came into this game on the back of a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League and they were full of confidence. They have now managed to climb to the top of the Spanish league table for the first time since November.
Real Madrid won at Camp Nou earlier in the season and this is the first time they have completed a league double of the Catalan giants since 2007/08.
The home side were in control from the start and they thoroughly deserved the three points. Real Madrid started the game with intensity and urgency just like they did in the midweek against Liverpool and Barcelona struggled to cope in the first half.
The away side recovered in the second half but the hosts managed to hold on for three points. The away side came close to scoring the equalizer in the dying moments when Ilaix Moriba hit the crossbar.
Koeman started the game with Griezmann on the bench and the Frenchman could have made a difference for Barcelona in the first half when they were struggling to create chances.
The Barcelona manager will be unhappy with a penalty decision in the second half when Mendy appeared to grab Braithwaite in the box. However, the officials and VAR failed to come up with the correct decision.
The home side came under pressure in the second half after Casemiro was sent off for picking up two yellow cards but the goal post came to their rescue in the end.
Despite being without key players like Varane and Ramos, Real Madrid have managed to secure a vital win in the context of the title race and Zidane will be pleased with the character shown by his players this week.
Barcelona are now 3rd in the table, just one point adrift of Real Madrid after tonight’s defeat and the title race is far from over. However, the result today will give Los Blancos a huge confidence boost.
