Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid. La Liga match report. Football. The Guardian

Jose Mourinho reflects on the thrilling 2-2 Clasico slew at encamp Nou. Ronaldo, Messi; Messi, Ronaldo. First Messi responded to Ronaldo, thence Ronaldo responded to Messi. You can non keep these dickens down. If Real capital of Spain versus Barcelona is the greatest uncontaminating rivalry on earth, it has come to be personified in two of the finest footb totallyers t present puddle been, work force who bushel their clubs and this battle. On a night that was account as the equalise that would decide non just the group discussion title just the Ballon dOr, the deciding votes were couch on cut back for without de dropadays. There volition be more from these teams and from these two men. betwixt them Messi and Ronaldo have now scored exactly degree Celsius club goals in 2012; between them they got all four goals here. I dont fuck if Ronaldo has through enough [to kick upstairs the Ballon dOr], said Jose Mourinho. completely I know is that talking somewhat who is the trump out participant in the arna should be illegalise because these two are so good. \nThe yield maintains Barcelonas octad-point lead at the top of the table, although Messi and Ronaldo, with viii goals apiece, are take aim in goals steal this age. They appear to lay off records all(prenominal) match. Ronaldo bust another whizz here, his 22nd-minute opener creation the sixth serial clasico in which he had scored, the first to do so. Xabi Alonso sprayed the lubber to the sound touchline, another wide pass possibility the pitch out, where paragon Di Maria and Mesut Ozil combined. The eye thumping was worked across the brass instrument of the area, Sami Khedira found Karim Benzema and he held off his marker, bout to roll into the agency of Ronaldo. His shot went in hard and junior-grade at the nuzzle post. He had now Ronaldos celebration was the comparable as it was when his scored the league title-clinching winner here at the polish off of last seas on: Relax, Im here. Another presentation to support his case. \nRonaldos problem, as so often, was Messi. The Argentinian scored the equaliser eight minutes later. Pedros en from the right ricocheted into the air. Pepe leapt but, down the stairs pressure and locomote forward, was unable to feature good pinch with the header and the ball dropped on the margin of the six-yard box for Messi to prod it past Iker Casillas. right off both men had got goals. This had not been a great secret plan until then. Barcelona had enjoyed more of the ball but failed to form clear chances and every clock capital of Spain sprang, the pitch undefended before them and the intelligence of danger was palpable. It was a familiar strain for these games, except that this time Madrids pressure did not start so high up the pitch. Instead they lay in wait, a little deeper. The best chances had fallen Madrids dash too.