Barcelona has lost a step or two over the past few years and ever since losing Lionel Messi to PSG, Barcelona hasn’t exactly been at the top of their game. Despite a Copa del Rey win last season, Barca finished third in La Liga and didn’t even make it out of the group stage in this year’s UEFA Champions League.
So when Barcelona and Real Madrid squared off for the 282nd El Clásico, many were expecting a Real Madrid win. They had just advanced to the Champions League semis, were leading by 10 points in La Liga before Sunday, and won the past five El Clásico’s.
The thing is that games are played on the field and Barcelona took it to their rivals for a 4-0 victory at the Bernabéu. Goals by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2), Ronald Araujo, and Ferran Torres gave Barcelona fans a much-needed boost as well as a boost to their top four hopes.
Many took notice to Barcelona’s beatdown of Real Madrid. It wasn’t expected, and Barcelona even had a short prep time as they played Galatasaray in Turkey on Thursday, but they got the job done and that’s what matters. And much of the praise went to Barcelona’s manager Xavi.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 20, 2022
Barcelona have another 4-0 win to add to their 6-2, 4-0 and two 3-0 victories vs Real Madrid at Bernabéu since 2009. Honestly, this felt as dominant as any of those. It may not affect LaLiga this season, but it's symbolic alright. Barça are back.#ElClásico
— Ben Hayward (@bghayward) March 20, 2022
I don't think Real Madrid are going to sell a lot of these shirts off the back of this promotion. https://t.co/WmYBYPtdny
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) March 20, 2022
Real Madrid’s defense pic.twitter.com/B2iJzUDrWW
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) March 20, 2022
Barca played away at Galatasaray on Thursday. Had only 1-2 days of rest after traveling. Before coming to Bernabeu to absolutely slaughter Real Madrid. Real Madrid had six days of rest. Xavi should be applauded
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) March 20, 2022
ALL EYES ON THIS GUY WHEN EL CLASICO ENDS pic.twitter.com/tGvlbOSPiJ
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) March 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/carlogarganese/status/1505655485617291265?s=20&t=7x1eUyIx4gfuJJoiUGfp8w
What Xavi has done in such a short space of time is actually amazing. He's turned Barça from a shambolic mess to one of the best teams in the world in four months
— Andy West (@andywest01) March 20, 2022
First El Clasico win for Barcelona in three years. A performance which shows how far the team has come since Xavi took charge 135 days ago.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) March 20, 2022
What a win by @FCBarcelona 4-0 at the Bernabeu…Xavi has achieved an amazing turnaround…xmb #RealMadridBarca #ElClasico
— Mark Bosnich (@TheRealBozza) March 20, 2022
In terms of La Liga, this result is not the be-all-end-all for either. I still see RM winning the league + Barça getting a CL spot. This is rather a STATEMENT for Barcelona, who win their first Clásico since 2019 + most importantly, for Xavi – his 1st ever Clásico W as manager.
— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) March 20, 2022
[Photo: @ESPNFC]
