Barcelona conjured up a magical performance that rolled back the
years to Johan Cruyff's "Dream Team" of the 1990s to crush
arch-rivals Real Madrid 5-0 and move two points clear at the top
of La Liga on Monday.
In a festival atmosphere at their rain-lashed Nou Camp
stadium, the Barca players entertained their ecstatic fans with
a breathtaking display of free-flowing football that left Real's
array of expensive talent chasing the ball for long periods.
Watched by millions around the world, it was the Catalan
club's most emphatic victory in Spain's "Clasico" since Cruyff's
all-conquering side, featuring current coach Pep Guardiola,
thrashed Real 5-0 in the 1993-94 season.
It also put a severe dent in Real's resurgence under new
coach Jose Mourinho, a former assistant at Barca who had led his
side into the match undefeated in all competitions.
Xavi and Pedro struck early to put Barca 2-0 up before David
Villa scored in the 55th and 58th minutes to raise the noise
levels to a deafening pitch.
Substitute Jeffren added a fifth in stoppage time and Real
defender Sergio Ramos was sent off for a badly-timed challenge
on Lionel Messi at the death.
Barca have 34 points from 13 of 38 matches, with Real on 32
and Villarreal in third on 27.
"Today Barca were far superior and enjoyed playing in its
own style," Spain striker Villa said in a television interview.
"Madrid did not feel at ease and did not know how to, or
could not I think, dominate the midfield which is the strength
of our team," he added.
"We are two points clear, very happy, but we have to
continue working as we are only in November and we need to carry
on winning."
SLICK SURFACE
The eagerly-anticipated clash between the world's two
richest clubs was seen as a first genuine test of Real's
resurgence under Portuguese Mourinho.
Featuring 13 players from Spain's World Cup-winning squad,
eight from Barca and five from Real, it also pitted Barca's
Argentina forward Messi against the man he succeeded as World
Player of the Year, Real's Cristiano Ronaldo.
The champions dominated from the start on a slick playing
surface that favoured their swift passing game, with Real
sitting back and looking to strike on the counter.
Messi curled a shot against the post in the sixth minute and
after the home side went ahead four minutes later they never
looked back.
Xavi was played in by Spain team mate Andres Iniesta and he
lifted the ball neatly over Iker Casillas from close range.
The Spain midfielder was dictating the play and was
instrumental in Barca's second in the 18th.
He sprayed the ball wide to Villa and Casillas could only
palm his cross into the path of Pedro who gleefully sidefooted
home.
Messi totally outshone Ronaldo and carved open the visitors'
defence for both of Villa's goals as well as coming close to
scoring several times in the second half.
Villa beat Casillas with a powerful angled shot for his
first in the 55th and sped clear to add his second three minutes
later, netting with the outside of his boot as his internatioal
team mate rushed off his line.
Real barely threatened the goal of Victor Valdes and after
Jeffren had made it five their dejected players trudged off to
leave the Barca fans celebrating a fifth-straight "Clasico" win.
Mourinho, hired from Inter Milan to end Barca's two-year
reign as Spanish champions, has now failed to win a match at the
Nou Camp in six attempts, including three defeats and two draws
with Chelsea and Inter.
"We weren't expecting it but there is a good deal of the
season left and nothing has been decided," Real midfielder Xabi
Alonso told reporters.
