The focus of the footballing world was in Spain last weekend for the most expensive ‘El Classico’ derby of all time. Barcelona and Real Madrid locked horns at the Nou Camp last weekend and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Three of the worlds most expensive players where on show with Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka starting for Real Madrid who are first and third respectively in the most expensive footballers in the world . The second most expensive player in the world in Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sat on Barca’s bench. It promised to be a real blockbuster with the game being showed in Spain for the first time at the cinema.
The match set off at a frantic pace with Real gaining the upper hand in the first half. Two golden chances where spurned by Ronaldo & Brazilian left back Marcello, they where both denied by some fantastic defending courtesy of Goal keeper Victor Valdes and Barca’s captain Carlos Puyol.
In the second half Barca manager Pep Guardiola was ruthless pulling off French striker Thierry Henry and replacing him with the Swedish striker Ibrahimovic. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark on the game. On the sixty first minute Ibra slot in a fantastic volley from a Dani Alves cross which left Real keeper Iker Casillas powerless to stop.
The Nou Camp erupted as Barcelona took the lead, however this was tempered slightly with the loss of midfielder Sergi Busquets who was sent off for a second bookable offence. But Real Madrid failed to capitalise on their advantage and where blocked out time and time again by the defensive duo of Pique & Puyol.
In the last five minutes Real Madrid also had a player sent off, this was French midfielder Lassana Diarra for his second bookable offence. From here on in Barca rode out the Real Madrid threat and in fact could have doubled their lead with Leo Messi spurning a great chance to assure the spoils for the Catalan side.
Over to England and the big game was between Arsenal and Chelsea. This match was all about Arsenal to see if they could rise up and indeed challenge for the premier league title. Unfortunately this didn’t quite happen as Chelsea took the lead, despite of Arsenal’s superior possession advantage. Didier Drogba drifted into the box to turn in an Ashley Cole cross. Chelsea stuck soon after this through the same outlet of an Ashley Cole cross this time it struck defender Thomas Vermaelen. The Gunners went in at half time two goals down to their Premier league and local rivals.
In the second half and Arsenal tried to pull back their advantage and pulled on winger Theo Walcott to stretch the Chelsea defence. Arsenal thought they had pulled a goal though Andrei Arshavin but it ruled out through a foul on Chelsea Keeper Peter Cech. Chelsea still pushed hard on Arsenal and looked the more dominant side in the closing exchanges. Drogba was denied by the quick reactions of keeper Manuel Almunia after his powerful shot which deflected off two players.
But Drogba was not going to be denied and in the 86th minute he scored a stunning free kick. Much to the delight of the visiting Chelsea fans and team mates, the result leaves Chelsea five points clear of the Premier league.
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