Spain’s best can’t be separated in Clasico
Played against a backdrop of fiscal and political turmoil in Spain, the growing number of separatists in Catalonia made their voices heard before the game as fans raised coloured cards to represent the region’s flag, while a cry of “Independencia” went up after 17 minutes and 14 seconds of each half — a reference to 1714, the year the region last enjoyed autonomy from Spain.
Tito Vilanova stressed the importance of football and not politics before the game as his Barca headed into the game eight points clear of their arch-rivals and boasting a 100% record from their first six matches.
However, the home side found themselves trailing midway through the first half when Ronaldo netted for the sixth straight Clasico — the first player from either club ever to do so.
But Messi equalised with a scrappy goal soon after and then put the hosts ahead with a stunning free-kick on the hour, only for Ronaldo to capitalise on sloppy defending midway through the second half to ensure honours ended even.
Barcelona had the best chances to win the game in the final quarter.
Martin Montoya was almost an unlikely match-winner on 88 minutes but his right-footed attempt from the edge of the box crashed back off the bar, before Pedro burst through in stoppage time and unleashed a left-footed shot which flew just wide.
Atletico Madrid drew level with Barca at the top as Malaga defender Weligton put through his own goal in the last minute to gift Atletico a 2-1 win.
Falcao fired the home side ahead after just six minutes before Roque Santa Cruz levelled for Malaga eight minutes before the break. It looked like the spoils would be shared before Weligton’ late gaffe.
In Serie A, Walter Samuel lit the touchpaper on the fieriest of Milan derbies, and stood back as 10-man Inter Milan rode out a controversial 90 minutes to win 1-0 and heap further woe on Massimiliano Allegri.
All eyes had been on Inter striker Antonio Cassano, who had switched sides at the San Siro before the start of the Serie A season, but it was veteran centre-back Samuel who won the game for the Nerazzurri with a headed goal in the third minute.
Riccardo Montolivo was denied the chance to restore parity courtesy of a controversial call from referee Paolo Valeri, but AC Milan only had themselves to blame for failing to capitalise when Yuto Nagatomo’s dismissal put Inter on the back foot for much of the second half.
Earlier, champions Juventus needed a late winner from Claudio Marchisio to see off bottom team Siena at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Andrea Pirlo gave the Bianconeri the lead with an early free-kick, but the league leaders were pegged back in first-half stoppage time by Emanuele Calaio’s equaliser.
However, the visitors refused to settle for the draw and secured all three points five minutes from time when Marchisio volleyed home the winner.
Napoli joined Juventus at the top of Serie A with a hard-earned 2-1 win over Udinese at the Stadio San Paolo.
Marek Hamsik gave Napoli the lead in the 31st minute, but Giampiero Pinzi responded for the visitors.
Goran Pandev restored the home side’s lead on the stroke of half time and they defended resolutely from then on to claim the points.
Two Zlatan Ibrahimovic goals midway through the first half were not enough to help PSG leapfrog Marseille at the top of Ligue 1 last night.
The Sweden international cancelled out Andre Pierre Gignac’s 17th-minute opener with his double but Gignac added a second of his own before the break to ensure Marseille remain three points clear of their rivals.
In Germany, Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund are nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich after only managing a 1-1 draw at Hannover last night, salvaged a point for the hosts after Robert Lewandowski’s opener cancelled out by Mame Biram Diouf’s late equaliser.
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