Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati breaks Real Madrid legend’s El Clasico record but Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric are the heroes leaving Lionel Messi miffed
Los Blancos’ superstar centre-back notched the vital go-ahead penalty mid-way through the second period allowing them to rally for victory.
It was an eventful game from the start and saw Barca wonderkid Ansu Fati become the youngest ever El Clasico goalscorer, netting aged 17 years, 359 days.
His strike, a neat close-range finish after a Jordi Alba cross from the left, saw him eclipse the record of the previous youngest – Real legend Raul (18 years, 95 days) set back in 1995.
The goal, which Fati celebrated by kissing the badge, was a leveller in the match with just eight minutes gone as the visitors had struck just three minutes earlier.
Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde had been put through by Karim Benzema, and slotted superbly past Neto, in for Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
In the second period, Philippe Coutinho hit the side netting with a back-post header from a Fati cross when he should have at least hit the target as Barcelona pushed to go ahead,.
Meanwhile, the Spanish youngster missed another effort with team-mate Lionel Messi begging for the ball having found himself in space.
And not long after the spurned chances, Madrid snatched the lead when, after a VAR intervention, Ramos was adjudged to have been pulled by Clement Llenglet in the penalty area.
The centre-back, 34, after a couple of elongated steps in his run-up, slid the ball to Neto’s right by mere milimetres.
It was, on the whole, a fascinating clash with Thibaut Courtois producing a fine save after a truly stunning turn and shot from Messi in the penalty area.
Neto was also on form at the opposite end to deny Benzema’s first-time shot, and then a late quick-fire brace of Toni Kroos strikes and a Ramos volley.
However, the Brazilian was then at fault for Real’s third goal fumbling the ball as he attempted to collect at the feet of Vinicius Jr.
Zinedine Zidane’s LaLiga champions took full advantage with Luka Modric firing home into an empty net with the outside of his right boot to seal all three points.
Meanwhile, Messi, denied a transfer in the summer, looked seriously miffed on the pitch with Barcelona now six points behind their table-topping rivals, albeit with a game in hand.
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