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BARCELONA THRASH REAL MADRID IN EL CLASICO

BARCELONA THRASH REAL MADRID IN EL CLASICO
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Wayne Lumbasi

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged a brace in a 4-0 win in El Clasico as Barcelona inflicted a damaging defeat on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

While Carlo Ancelotti’s side started well, they fell behind just before the half-hour mark when Aubameyang got ahead of Eder Militao to glance home an Ousmane Dembele cross into the box.

Ronald Araujo doubled Barca’s advantage less than 10 minutes later with the Uruguayan defender rising highest from a corner kick to power a header past Thibaut Courtois.

Barcelona players celebrate after Ronald Araujo’s goal
/Getty Images/

Rather than come out and regroup after half-time, Real Madrid were a shambles. Ferran Torres spurned a great chance after being allowed to run through from the halfway line a minute before he added to the lead, slotting into the top corner after Aubameyang’s fantastic back heel.

Four minutes later Aubameyang had the ball in the net once more courtesy of a delightful left-footed clip and although initially being ruled out for offside, VAR overturned the decision.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Barcelona demolished Real Madrid /Getty Images/

The loss of Benzema, can’t be overstated, but there was no explaining the performances of key players like David Alaba, Éder Militão and Toni Kroos.

Benzema’s absence, in theory, introduced Rodrygo wide right, Federico Valverde in the middle and Luka Modrić as a free-roaming False 9, but in practice it was a total disaster — turning Real into a shapeless unit devoid of taking control in the attacking half while looking susceptible to every Barcelona forward.

It’s not much more than a symbolic win for Barça given Real’s lead at the top, but it ends Real’s five-game winning streak across all competitions in El Clásico and lays down a marker ahead of Xavi’s first full season in charge.

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Wayne Lumbasi