Cristiano Ronaldo scored an 85th minute winner as 10 man Real Madrid came from behind in a stunning fashion to end Barcelona’s 39 match unbeaten run in all competitions.
After an insipid opening 45 minutes at the Camp Nou, the Clasico suddenly erupted into life early in the second half as the home side took the lead through Gerard Pique’s towering header from an Ivan Rakitic corner. Karim Benzema’s acrobatics earned the Los Blancos a deserved equalizer in the 63rd minute after a rampaging run by the Brazilian Marcelo.
Gareth Bale’s headed goal in the 79th minute was controversially disallowed by referee Hernandez Hernandez after the Welshman was unfairly adjudged to have fouled Barcelona left back Jordi Alba in the build up. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos saw red 6 minutes before half time after earning a second booking for an innocuous challenge on Luis Suarez. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Camp Nou’s pantomime villain, struck a minute later to condemn Barcelona to their first defeat in 40 competitive matches in all competitions.
With so many talking points in the second half of the Clasico, the twitteratti had a field day. Here is how they reacted.
Pique scores for Barcelona
Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/U3Sy0pRdxq
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 2, 2016
PIQUENBAUER!!!!!!
— MOLOCH THE LOVELESS (@MochineGun) April 2, 2016
That pretty much sums up Madrid’s season, of all people to score against them it’s Pique
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) April 2, 2016
piqueeeeeeee pic.twitter.com/UIYufgqZef
— Khalassi (@rawan) April 2, 2016
Milan’s babysitter scores.
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) April 2, 2016
Yesssssssss 1-0 @FCBarcelona @3gerardpique #ElClasico great header
— Patrick Kluivert (@PatrickKluivert) April 2, 2016
Real’s worst case scenario – Pique scores
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 2, 2016
Benzema equalizes for Real Madrid
what a finish! that goal was all about Marcelo tho. SUPERB run.
— MOLOCH THE LOVELESS (@MochineGun) April 2, 2016
Benzema had shocker of first half, but that was super finish.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) April 2, 2016
“Marcelo, do you bleed?” – Batman.
— The Futbol Goat (@TheFutbolGOAT) April 2, 2016
Fantastic, acrobatic finish from Benzema to tie it up. Don’t think anyone was expecting that.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) April 2, 2016
That Karim Benzema #ElClasico goal, though. pic.twitter.com/4cLM5Gb9lj
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 2, 2016
Gareth Bale’s headed goal is controversially disallowed
Nothing wrong with the goal. Bale robbed.
— FG (@FunnyGooner) April 2, 2016
Disallowed for having a shit beard. Good call.
— Iain Macintosh (@iainmacintosh) April 2, 2016
That’s quite frankly a ridiculous decision. You’d think decent refereeing is the least you’d expect in the biggest match on the planet.. ?
— Copa90 (@Copa90) April 2, 2016
Death, taxes and a Sergio Ramos red card
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) April 2, 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo scores the winner
Mood right now pic.twitter.com/hF13r0XGhg
— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) April 2, 2016
Ronaldo now has 16 goals in his 25 clasicos inc 10 at Camp Nou where he generally does better v Barca than at Bernabeu.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) April 2, 2016
Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
Cristiano. Ronaldo. (Of course) ?#ElClasico pic.twitter.com/L2OATeUf9t
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 2, 2016
Cool, calm, composed. ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/9kOlukMIYW
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) April 2, 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo makes it 2-1! https://t.co/d1aID5ViAV
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) April 2, 2016
When you break Barca’s unbeaten streakpic.twitter.com/Qhk7S2CiiJ
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) April 2, 2016
Barcelona’s run of 39 games unbeaten finally comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/LqO4VmPPSi
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) April 2, 2016
On #WrestleMania weekend, another streak ends. #ElClasico https://t.co/d2wwVTt2xK pic.twitter.com/45PZjmXSoe
— TheSportMatrix (@TheSportMatrix) April 2, 2016
Barcelona’s form:
WWWDWWWWWWWDDDWWWDWWWWWWWWWWDWWWWWWWWWDL pic.twitter.com/RVBZQxpu9o
— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) April 2, 2016
MSN performed a 90 minute silence during El Clasico in respect for Johan Cruyff today. Class. pic.twitter.com/tilDNBswHX
— Juan Mata (@JuanMataTouch) April 2, 2016