Barcelona secures dramatic El Clásico win to maneuver 12 factors away from Actual Madrid in La Liga | CNN

CNN
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Barcelona took an enormous step in the direction of its first league title since 2019 after scoring a last-gasp winner in opposition to Actual Madrid in El Clásico on Sunday.

Franck Kessié’s stoppage time purpose secured a 2-1 win for the Catalan membership which now strikes 12 factors away from Madrid atop the La Liga desk, with 12 video games remaining.

Barça was the higher facet all through the sport however initially went behind after defender Ronald Araújo turned a cross into his personal internet.

Supported by a capability crowd contained in the Camp Nou, the 26-time league champion rallied and equalized via Sergi Roberto simply earlier than halftime.

Actual Madrid’s Marco Asensio then noticed his late effort dominated out by the video assistant referee (VAR) for offside earlier than Kessié wrapped up the tie within the 92nd minute.

“We by no means gave up, however we’re already 4 video games behind them. Nothing is unimaginable, however the reality is that it’s very troublesome,” Actual goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois instructed Movistar Plus, talking about his facet’s league title hopes.

Actual Madrid has suffered with inconsistency this season however got here into Sunday’s sport off the again of a 6-2 mixture win over Liverpool within the Champions League.

However whereas Los Blancos did present glimpses of high quality, the workforce relied too many occasions on Courtois who saved his facet within the match with some spectacular saves.

Regardless of the hosts being largely the higher facet, Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti mentioned he was pleased with his workforce.

“We’ll battle to the top in each competitors, we’re filled with confidence. We’ll battle for La Liga till the top,” he mentioned.

The Italian, although, was left indignant by the offside choice that dominated out Asensio’s 81st minute purpose, which may have been the winner for Madrid.

VAR judged that the ahead was forward of Barcelona’s defenders, albeit by the narrowest of margins.

Lower than 10 minutes after the choice, Kessié scored the eventual winner after smashing dwelling Alejandro Balde’s cross which gave Barcelona its a hundredth El Clásico victory.

“We’re unhappy, it’s painful, however we’re pleased with the efficiency we put in,” Ancelotti added.

“It was a whole show from the primary minute till the final. We haven’t gained it as a result of an offside which was extraordinarily uncertain and we’re heading again to Madrid with these doubts nonetheless in our minds.”

Barça, which stays embroiled in an alleged referee fee scandal, faces Elche in its subsequent league match after the worldwide break whereas Actual Madrid takes on Actual Valladolid.