Real Madrid and FC Barcelona faced off in the highly anticipated 32nd round of the Spanish La Liga, where Real Madrid clinched a thrilling last-minute victory over their rivals with a 3-2 scoreline.
The match kicked off with Barcelona taking the lead in the 6th minute at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Andreas Christensen rose above Toni Kroos to head in a corner from Raphinha, putting Barcelona ahead 1-0. However, their advantage was short-lived.
Lucas Vasquez, positioned on the left side of Real Madrid’s defense, emerged as a pivotal figure in this intense Clasico showdown. Vasquez embarked on a dynamic run down the left flank, penetrating towards the right side of the penalty area, where he was fouled by Pau Cubarsi. Referee César Soto Grado promptly awarded a penalty. Vinicius Junior confidently stepped up and converted the spot-kick in the 18th minute, leveling the score at 1-1, despite Marc-André Ter Stegen diving in the correct direction.
Barcelona had a chance to regain the lead, but their goal was not given. During a corner from Raphinha on the right side, Lamine Yamal stretched his leg towards the near post. Andriy Lunin seemed to clear the ball behind the goal line. However, with Goal Line Technology not in place for this crucial match, making a definitive judgment was challenging, despite Lunin appearing hesitant after being caught off guard by Yamal’s clever deflection. The goal was ultimately not awarded, much to the frustration of Xavi and his players.
It’s important to note that La Liga’s decision not to implement Goal Line Technology is attributed to the high associated costs. The score remained tied at 1-1, with both teams fiercely competing for dominance throughout the match.