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The Spanish Clasico played on Sunday October 16 turned in favor of Real Madrid, at home. Carried in particular by its captain Karim Benzema and its essential midfielder Federico Valverde, the merengue club extinguished Barça (3-1). Here he is again alone at the top of the championship, while his striker Benzema awaits the Ballon d’Or.
Real Madrid had a score to settle with FC Barcelona. Last March, the Catalans came to the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium to inflict a humiliation to their old rivals (0-4). Of course, this did not prevent the people of Madrid from finishing as champions of Spain, in addition to winning a new Champions League. But between these two ogres, we do not tolerate any gift to the other. Outside the sporting challenge, there was also a desire for redemption in the ranks of Real.
Without Thibaut Courtois, reduced by sciatica and replaced by the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin, but with his captains and his captain Karim Benzema, the White House was quick to get on the right track. After a blaugrana offensive, Toni Kroos began a counter-attack and launched Vinicius perfectly in depth. The Brazilian lost his duel against Marc-André ter Stegen, but Karim Benzema had followed well to recover this repelled ball and open the scoring (12th).
Big favorite for the Ballon d’Or 2022, which will be awarded Monday in Paris, the Frenchman savored this first goal with his audience. Bothered by a right thigh injury since early September, the striker had played little lately and had not shaken the nets since August 28. The ex-Lyonnais found his way back to goal at the right time, as a sign of his personal coronation expected in a few hours.
Benzema can safely turn to the Ballon d’Or ceremony
Deprived in particular of Memphis Depay and Andreas Christensen, Barça tried to react, without success. Raphinha sent a center to Robert Lewandowski, but the Pole, yet deemed lethal against the cage, missed. While he was a few centimeters from the goal line, the former Munich player managed to send his recovery over the crossbar (25th). An unusual failure, perhaps symptomatic of Barcelona’s inferiority on Sunday.
After a well-oiled collective action, Real Madrid scored the break goal by Federico Valverde, free to arm a powerful shot into the side net of ter Stegen from the entrance to the area (35th). With this advantage on the scoreboard and the control of the debates, the people of Madrid lived a rather quiet second period. Ferran Torres revived the suspense by reducing the gap (83rd), but a penalty converted by Rodrygo locked Real’s success (90th + 2).
With 25 points on the clock, Real Madrid regains the lead in La Liga and remains undefeated in 9 days. Barça, beaten for the first time this season in La Liga, is three lengths behind. With peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment, Karim Benzema can calmly turn to this day on Monday after which he should, barring a huge surprise, become the fifth French footballer crowned Ballon d’Or.