Then the breakthrough materialized. A wonderful slide rule pass from the impressive Ozil sent Ronaldo through, the man who has come to exemplify the failures of Madrid in this fixture held his nerve brilliantly to round Pinto and slot into an empty net. Madrid players looked at the clock and sensed a window of opportunity, if they scored again then who knew?
They did not have to wait long as Pique inexplicably played a risky clearance and the ball landed to the substitute Benzema who turned inside Puyol and rifled the ball home. Silence descended on the Nou Camp, Mission Impossible was not only on but also likely. Plenty of time remained for Madrid to clinch an era defining victory.
Barcelona fans counted down the minutes as they watched their team in disarray. This was demonstrated by Pique and Puyol ending up anywhere on the pitch. Barca were unable to kill the game off as Madrid committed more and more men forward, and at the back they looked vulnerable to any Madrid attack. As full time loomed Ramos was ridiculously sent for a second yellow that never was. The incident granted the Blaugrana invaluable respite and took away the Madrid momentum. The Barca players played out the final minutes and Madrid were reduced to desperate and petty fouls.
The final whistle was the cue for relief to shower on the stadium, for Madrid there was the all too familiar sight of the players venting their frustrations on the referee. Madrid were left to lament a slew of opportunities gone begging and whilst the performance was fantastic, there could be no hiding from the fact they had failed to overcome Barca once again.
The losing effort could unite the fractious Madrid camp again and whilst the combustibility of Mourinho and his incompatibly with the Madrid way is waiting to blow up again, he can be proud of his and his teams efforts. Mourniho bowed to public pressure and played an attacking line up, perhaps he has belatedly learned his lesson that his negative tactics are intolerable and ineffective against Barca.
For Barcelona the game represented a lucky escape, perhaps they were guilty of taking their eye off the ball in the wake of recent events. Guardiola will know his team can ill afford to be so complacent again.
Above all the events of the last week have reignited the attraction of El Classico. This writer was fearful the fixture was becoming predictable but he and the rest of the world will be once again eagerly anticipating the next meeting between the foes whenever it may be.
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