Europe's most well-known rivalry enters a new chapter as Real Madrid travel to the Camp Nou to meet bitter enemies Barcelona in a potential La Liga decider.
Karim Benzema was withdrawn against Liverpool, but he is ready to go for El Clasico. Real Madrid have gone out of their way to implicate Barcelona in the situation, which has sullied relations between the two clubs. Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez will not travel to the match at Camp Nou, the first Clasico that he has not attended in over 20 years. 68 mins: Cynical stuff from Roberto to bring down Modric and earn a caution. Kroos — 15. Courtois (GK) — 2. Nacho — 10. Gavi — 22. Balde — 21. ter Stegen (GK) — 23. In another team, he'd be one of the most valued players, but here he's heavily criticized." Xavi: "I don't know what to say about Sergi Roberto anymore.
Instead, as Madrid surged forward in search of a winning goal they surely needed to maintain realistic hopes of overhauling their opponents' LaLiga lead, Kessie ...
But, with the help of VAR, Barcelona survived before Kessie stuck a late dagger into Madrid's hopes of retaining their title. [Rodrygo](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/267804/Rodrygo) and [Ferland Mendy](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/217475/Ferland-Mendy) for [Toni Kroos](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/103173/Toni-Kroos) and [Nacho](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/157710/Nacho). However, after a long VAR review, it was ruled that Asensio had initially been in an offside position. [Thibaut Courtois](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) had to be at this best to keep out efforts from [Robert Lewandowski](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski) and [Raphinha](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231050/Raphinha) while [Sergi Roberto](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/150225/Sergi-Roberto) shot just over the bar. [Sergio Busquets](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/121893/Sergio-Busquets) gave the ball away to allow a clear shot at goal from the edge of the box, the young Brazilian lashed his effort high over the crossbar. [Vinicius Junior](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/252107/Vinícius-Júnior) chipped a cross back from near the byline down the left, and Araujo found his head in the wrong place at the wrong time to divert the ball past [Marc-Andre ter Stegen](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/140740/Marc-André-ter-Stegen) at his near post. [Federico Valverde](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/235818/Federico-Valverde) slashed an effort wide for Madrid and Lewandowski had a shot deflected just wide. [Marco Asensio](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/195821/Marco-Asensio) turned in [Dani Carvajal](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/168531/Dani-Carvajal)'s cross. [Ronald Araujo](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/270821/Ronald-Araújo) put Real Madrid ahead in just the ninth minute, but Barcelona responded to claim a deserved equalizer through [Sergi Roberto](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/150225/Sergi-Roberto)'s composed finish right on the stroke of half-time. [Franck Kessie](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/194711/Franck-Kessié) scored a stoppage-time winner to give [Barcelona](/football/team?id=83) a 2-1 victory over [Real Madrid](/football/team?id=86) in Sunday's Clasico at Camp Nou and a massive 12-point lead over second-place Real Madrid with 12 games of the [LaLiga](/football/league/_/name/ESP.1) season remaining. [LaLiga](/football/league/_/name/ESP.1) lead, Kessie turned in a cut-back from Alex Balde in the second minute of stoppage time to send the Camp Nou crowd wild with delight. The goal was the first Barcelona had conceded from open play at home in LaLiga this season and dented their early momentum as Madrid gained confidence and composure.
Barcelona players celebrate during their match against Real Madrid on Sunday. Angel Martinez/Getty Images. CNN —. Barcelona ...
We haven’t won it due to an offside which was extremely doubtful and we’re heading back to Madrid with those doubts still in our minds.” Nothing is impossible, but the truth is that it’s very difficult,” Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Movistar Plus, speaking about his side’s league title hopes. [alleged referee payment ](https://cnn.com/2023/03/10/football/fc-barcelona-corruption-charges-referees-payments-spt-intl/index.html)scandal, faces Elche in its next league match after the international break while Real Madrid takes on Real Valladolid. “We’re sad, it’s painful, but we’re proud of the performance we put in,” Ancelotti added. [Barcelona](http://www.cnn.com/2023/03/18/football/el-clasico-barcelona-real-madrid-la-liga-spt-intl/index.html) took a huge step towards its first league title since 2019 after scoring a last-gasp winner against [Real Madrid](http://www.cnn.com/2023/03/15/football/vinicius-jr-racism-in-spanish-football-spt-intl/index.html) in El Clásico on Sunday. Real Madrid has suffered with inconsistency this season but came into Sunday’s game off the back of a 6-2 aggregate win over Liverpool in the Champions League.
Real Madrid have launched a tirade of criticism towards De Burgos Bengoetxea and Cesar Soto Grado, the officials responsible for on field and VAR ...
"It's definitely a wicked element," it continued as it denounced a string of refereeing calls that were granted in favor of Barcelona this season in LaLiga Santander matchups against the likes of Valencia and Athletic Club. [sentenced Real Madrid in El Clasico](https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/cronica/2023/03/19/64177e9022601d7c2e8b45b1.html)," the report began. The Real Madrid channel dedicated much of its midday scheduling to the fiery outburst, directing the brunt of their accusations towards the performance of the three referees both in their recent tie with Barcelona and in LaLiga Santander matches prior. Florentino decides not to go to the Camp Nou for El Clasico](https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2023/03/19/64170f30268e3e9b7a8b458f.html) [Real Madrid ](https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid.html)have launched a tirade of criticism towards De Burgos Bengoetxea and Cesar Soto Grado, the officials responsible for on field and VAR adjudication of last night's Clasico, as well as Clos Gomez, the individual who oversees video refereeing in LaLiga Santander. [Barcelona victorious over rivals Real Madrid in late Clasico drama](https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/cronica/2023/03/19/64177e9022601d7c2e8b45b1.html) The Spanish club released a damning report to Real Madrid TV, the club's official media channel, which opened with a damning assessment of the alleged state of La Liga video assistant refereeing.
Real Madrid president from 1995 to 2000, the club won 2 European Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 League, 1 Spanish Super Cup, 1 Basketball League and 1 ...
Mijatovic scored the goal in Amsterdam that saw Real Madrid win the European trophy for the first time in 32 years. Under his presidency, the club won the seventh European Cup in a memorable final against Juventus. The Real Madrid legacy grew with Lorenzo Sanz as president thanks to the seven titles: two European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, one League, one Spanish Super Cup, one Basketball League and one Basketball Cup Winners' Cup.
Photo by: Emilio Garcia El Clasico is one of the biggest rivalries in the world of soccer and it is a match that transcends the sport.
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is about more than just football. However, it was in the ’80s that it truly entered a new era. It is a battle that has grown over the years, and its history is fascinating.
Real Madrid suffered a narrow Clasico loss to Barcelona that essentially ends their title hopes, with Karim Benzema enduring a night to forget.
Benzema was particularly weak as he was unable to get into space in the Barca box, while the evening would have been much worse for his side were it not for Thibaut Courtois, who was a rock in goal for most of the game. Karim Benzema picked one hell of a night to put in perhaps his most toothless display of the season as Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona on Sunday.
Alaba has struggled to get back to full fitness since the start of 2023, with a month on the sidelines due to a hamstring, seeing him miss Los Blancos last six ...
[Defeat to Barcelona last weekend has effectively ended their La Liga title defence,](https://www.football-espana.net/2023/03/19/barcelona-la-liga-title-el-clasico-win) but they face a key April, with a Copa del Rey semi final second leg against the Catalans, and a Champions League quarter final up against old foes [Chelsea](https://www.caughtoffside.com/tags/premier-league/chelsea/). [Real Madrid](https://www.football-espana.net/category/la-liga/real-madrid) defensive star [David Alaba](https://www.football-espana.net/tag/david-alaba) has joined up with the Austria squad despite carrying an injury. [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-madrid/20230320/1001970350/alaba-desafia-virus-fifa.html), Alaba risks angering [Carlo Ancelotti](https://www.football-espana.net/tag/carlo-ancelotti) over the situation, as he prepares to captain Austria.