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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Sunday, 23 Dec
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Resultat:

FC Barcelona: 0
Real Madrid: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

Goal

0-1, Baptista (35')

Barça stunned in el Clásico (0-1)

Jordi Clos

Julio Baptista's first half goal gave Real Madrid victory against Barcelona in el Clásico on Sunday evening despite Frank Rijkaard's side doing everything they could to find an equaliser in the second half.

The game was won thanks to Madrid's defensive ability that did not allow Barça to find a way through during the exciting encounter. Despite not being able to count on Lionel Messi, the Blaugrana enjoyed the better chances in the opening half, but just as they looked set to make the breakthrough, Baptista struck on the counter-attack to put the visitors ahead. The second half was broken up by the referee's whistle and that has not helped Barça's cause as Madrid were able to track back when the play was broken up.

Bright start

After an impressive mosaic from the fans in the stands, the game began with a lot of tension as both teams went full throttle at each other. The initiative was taken by Barça as Ronaldinho and Deco looked to make an early impression, but it was Madrid that came closest to opening the scoring when Pepe met a Wesley Sneijder free-kick only to head straight at Víctor Valdés. There was not much space for either team to operate and chances were at a premium as a result.

Caught on the break

On the half-hour, Barça tested Iker Casillas for the first time as Eto'o and Andrés Iniesta broke into the area. Moment later Xavi shot straight at the Madrid custodian and the home team's clearest chance when Iniesta broke down the right and fired in a low cross which Ronaldinho struck first time only for Casillas to make a dramatic save on the line. Madrid raced up the other end on the break and stunned everyone by taking the lead. Baptista interchanged passes with Ruud van Nistelrooy before steering a shot past Valdés and into the top corner with 35 minutes on the clock.

Going for goal

The goal meant that in the second half Madrid were able to sit back and defend their lead and Barça were forced to come forward and try and search for an equaliser. Eight minutes after the break, Iniesta tested Casillas shortly after Samuel Eto'o had fired wide of the target from outside the area. Madrid were able to use the counter-attack to try and look for a second goal, but were prevented from adding to their tally.

Incisive Bojan

Barcelona looked to add to their options by bringing on Giovani Dos Santos and then Bojan Krkic, but neither were able to find a way past the wall of white shirts that stood between them and Casillas. Bojan was incisive moments after entering the fray as he fired straight at the keeper and his speed an movement did change then team's dynamic. Eto'o then had a chance just inside the area, but his shot ricocheted off the heels of Pepe and span away for a corner.

The defeat means that Barça's 100 per cent hom record came to and end and signalled the team's first loss in Camp Nou for almost 18 months. Madrid are now seven points clear at the top of the table.

Preview

Impressive milestone

El Clásico is the 1200th league game at home for Barça after 320 matches in Les Corts and 879 in Camp Nou. The statistics show that the Blaugrana have won 897 matches, while drawing 188 and losing 114.

Three points for Christmas

Jordi Clos

Barcelona's final league game of the year is the hotly-anticipated encounter against Real Madrid with the teams in first and second place in the table.

Los Merengues arrive as leaders, with a a four-point advantage, over Frank Rijkaard's team, but the home team will be in a confident mood after the victory in Mestalla last weekend. In Camp Nou, Barça are unstoppable as the statistics show that from the eleven official home games this season, the team has won all of them. History does not favour Madrid either, as they have won just once in their last 24 visits.

In order to have plenty of choice, Rijkaard has named a 19-man squad for the game with Thierry Henry among them. Lilian Thuram is also a change from the party that travelled to Mestalla last weekend. The main absentee will be Lionel Messi, who suffered an injury against Valencia so the Argentinian will have not opportunity to repeat the heroic hat-trick that he netted against Madrid last term. It is still unknown who will replace Messi in the side, but the race appears to be between Ronaldinho and Giovani Dos Santos, who were both named on the bench last Saturday. The other unknown factor will be who will play in midfield as Deco is fit again, but he picked up a slight known in Mestalla.

Oleguer Presas is still out injured, while Santiago Ezquerro, Edmílson and Marc Crosas have all been rested for the game. Samuel Eto'o is back in form and is fit to play after scoring three goals in his first two games since returning from injury and he will hope to maintain his habit of scoring against Real Madrid.

Full squad

Bernd Schuster's side travel to Camp Nou with a full squad after Guti was declared fit to play after overcoming an ankle injury, although he has only played 39 minutes in Madrid's last three matches. Unlike Barça, los Merengues had a game in midweek as they played their delayed first leg of the Copa del Rey against Alicante and came away with a 1-1 draw against the third tier outfit.

Unbeaten run

Barça have not dropped a single point in their eleven official games in the Camp Nou this season, winning eight in the league and three in the Champions League. The Catalan side have scored 30 goals and conceded just five in those matches.

Poor record

Camp Nou is not a successful venue for Real Madrid as they have won just once in their last 24 visits, while Barça have won 16 times and there have been seven draws.