Madrid: Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo got on the scoresheet as a dominant Real Madrid FC beat arch-rivals FC Barcelona 3-1 at home in ‘El Clasico’. Real Madrid are now on top of La Liga standings with 25 points, three ahead of FC Barcelona.
FT #ElClásico 3-1
🤍 @realmadriden secure the 3⃣ points 🤍
⚽️ @Benzema, @fedeevalverde & @RodrygoGoes ⚽️#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/3n5i2qBSV2— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) October 16, 2022
The opener of the match came in the 12th minute for the Whites. Vinicius Jr. and Toni Kroos combined with nice one-touch passes to build-up a opener for Karim Benzema. The French striker finished the goal with a denial from Marc-Andre ter Stegen following Vinicius’s rebound.
With ten minutes from the break, Eric Garcia made a mistake allowing Vinicius to sprint into the area and open up space for Valverde to shoot past the goalkeeper who left unmarked on the edge of the box.
🎯 @fedeevalverde #LaLigaSantander | #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/mJsYR1b7sk
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) October 16, 2022
Real Madrid got a threat in the last minute with FC Barcelona substitute, Ferran Torres. Torres reduced the margin with a close-range strike from a low cross of Robert Lewandowski. However, Rodrygo secured the win from the penalty spot in added time, Garcia had tripped him up within the area.
Following a midweek draw with Inter Milan, Barcelona and manager Xavi Hernandez have been facing elimination from the Champions League. The result was another setback for them.
