Madrid lifts gloom with perfect riposte

MADRID－Real Madrid won El Clasico and might have saved its season as it ended its slump in the best way possible on Sunday by beating Barcelona 2-0 and returning to the top of La Liga.

Vinicius Junior's deflected finish and a stoppage-time goal from Mariano Diaz decided a frenzied contest at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Madrid found new life after a Champions League defeat by Manchester City had left it on the brink of crisis.

"It's my best night as a Real Madrid player," Vinicius Junior said. "I always work hard and I knew a moment like this would come."

"It's been a tough week," said Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. "We talked about how we had an opportunity this weekend and we took it."

Victory put Madrid one point clear at the top of the standings and shifts focus back to Quique Setien's Barcelona, which was outfought and, at times, outplayed.

"The reality is we lost a lot of confidence with the ball," said Setien. "We entered a nervous spell and that's when the goal came."

The 19-year-old Vinicius had scored eight goals for Madrid since arriving two seasons ago, but none as big as this one.

"In the end he scored an important goal in an important match," said Zidane.

"I'm happy for him, he deserved a goal like this. He played well with and without the ball. He did a great job defensively as well."

Lionel Messi's rasping shot was saved by Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the first half but it was the Argentine's opposing captain, Sergio Ramos, who was thrashing his arms in celebration after the final whistle.

His reaction was an indication of the importance of this victory, not only for the effect it has on the standings but on the dynamic of the title race, which had seemed to be switching firmly in favor of Barca.

Opportunity missed

Cristiano Ronaldo, whose weekend game for Juventus against Inter Milan was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, was watching from an executive box, and Madrid could have done with him during a period in which it had won only one of its last five games.

Zidane said on Saturday this match would not decide who lifted the trophy in May but a Barca win and a five-point gap might well have been difficult to close.

Yet from the start Barcelona seemed keener to kill the game than win it, playing for time in the hope of keeping the contest tight, when it might have been better off going for the jugular.

"The Madrid we faced in the first half was one of the worst Madrids I have faced at the Bernabeu," said Barca defender Gerard Pique.

"I don't say it as a criticism, we also have our problems, but we've missed an opportunity."

There was more tension than creativity in the early stages as Fede Valverde crashed into Arthur Melo before fellow Spain fullbacks Dani Carvajal and Jordi Alba were both booked after a disagreement.

Madrid had the better of the play and regularly broke at speed through Vinicius down the left. However, it constantly failed to make the final pass, with Isco once left with his head in his hands after wasteful play from Marcelo.

Barca sluggish

Barcelona's passing was slow and its lack of urgency obvious. At one point, Messi bent to tie his bootlaces and took his time repositioning the ball before taking a corner.

But the visitor also created chances as Antoine Griezmann drove over from Alba's cutback and then Madrid had Courtois to thank for two excellent saves.

First, Arthur held off Toni Kroos to go clear but his finish was blocked by the foot of Courtois and then the Belgian palmed away Messi's shot after he had skipped in behind Madrid's defense.

Ramos was lucky to get away with an error that allowed Nelson Semedo to break past him while Alba risked a second yellow when he checked Valverde but referee Mateu Lahoz was unmoved.

Barcelona was sloppy after halftime and Madrid should have capitalized.

Instead, Isco's header beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen but not Pique on the line and Karim Benzema volleyed over after a sloppy pass from Arturo Vidal.

Vidal was replaced by Martin Braithwaite, Barca's emergency signing, and he sprinted in behind Marcelo twice in his first minute.

But Madrid remained in the ascendancy and in the 71st minute the host took the lead.

Benzema came short and pointed right to encourage Vinicius to run in behind. Kroos found him and Vinicius' shot deflected off the sliding Pique to beat ter Stegen at his near post.

The game opened up as Barcelona chased an equalizer. Marcelo celebrated when a Messi surge was stopped by Raphael Varane.

Pique headed Messi's cross over at the near post. Messi picked up a yellow card for a frustrated slide on Casemiro.

In injury time, ter Stegen ventured up for a late freekick but it was Madrid that struck again. Mariano sped past Semedo and finished from the angle.