Real Madrid showed class once again over the weekend in the Spanish La Liga as they recorded a vital 2-1 win over Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the 2021/22 season.
David Alaba scored his maiden goal as a Madrid player before Lucas Vazquez sealed all three points with Sergio Aguero scoring a consolation goal at the Camp Nou.
Carlo Ancelotti approached the game with the same starting line-up that beat Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
Barcelona started Sunday’s game as the better side as they dominated possession in the early stages but found it difficult to penetrate through the Madrid defence.
Madrid’s first chance of the game in the 32nd minute when Alaba dispossessed Memphis Depay in Madrid’s half to start a counterattack.
David Alaba then passed the ball to Vinicius Junior before continuing his surge forward. The Brazilian found Rodrygo Goes with a cross-field pass before going on to up Alaba for the game’s opener.
The centre-back blasted the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen to give Madrid a lead as the game headed into the first-half break.
Prior to Madrid’s opener, Sergio Dest blasted over the bar a clear put opportunity to put Ronald Koeman’s side in the lead, after Ansu Fati flicked on Depay’s pass into the USA international’s path.
Barca came into the second period of the game a much improved side with their high pressing and hitting the Los Blancos on the break.
Philippe Coutinho replaced Oscar Mingueza in the second half with Dest moving back into the right-back position. Ancelotti also replaced Rodrgo with Federico Valverde in the 72nd minute of the game.
Ter Stegen made some good saves from the efforts of Karim Benzema and Luka Modric to keep Barcelona in the game but there was no stopping of Vazquez’s strike into the net.
The German shot-stopper parried away Marco Asensio’s effort on goal but the rebound fell into the path of Vazquez, who made no mistake sweeping the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Substitute Kun Aguero also netted his first goal for the Catalan club to end the game 2-1 in favor of Madrid.
The win sees Madrid go second on the league table, just one point behind Real Sociedad who have played one game more than Ancelotti’s side.
