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Real Madrid grabbed a superb 3-1 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou, with Los Blancos bouncing back from a horrible week to grab a crucial win in La Liga's title race.
Against the backdrop of an empty stadium, El Clasico kicked off in high-tempo fashion. Karim Benzema produced a brilliant through ball to send Fede Valverde through and the Uruguayan scored from a narrow-angle to give Los Blancos the lead in just the fifth minute.
Barcelona did not let their heads drop, and Lionel Messi produced a trademark chip beyond the backline for Jordi Alba to run on to. He squared the ball for Ansu Fati to finish from close range, leveling the score at 1-1 with nine minutes gone. Both teams continued in gung-ho fashion but went into the break with the same scoreline.
After a relatively quiet start to the second half, the game came alive in an innocuous fashion. Clement Lenglet's tug on Sergio Ramos from a set-piece resulted in VAR awarding a penalty. The Madrid captain converted with aplomb, giving his side the lead in the 63rd minute.
Despite Neto's brilliance late on, Barcelona hung on, but their resistance was broken as Luka Modric kept calm to sidestep defenders and finish into the net late on, confirming a huge win for Madrid.
On that note, here are five talking points from a humdinger of a game.
#5 The silent El Clasico roars again
The first-ever El Clasico to be played behind closed doors, dubbed a 'Crisis Clasico' in many quarters before the game, displayed why it's the best, the biggest, the most entertaining game in football. Many expected a cagey game, with both clubs fearing a loss. Instead, both sides grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and going hammer-and-tongs at each other.
The narrative prior to the game in most Spanish newspapers decried the lack of quality in both teams, yet we saw plenty of deliciously good football. For all of those fans yearning back for the days of Guardiola vs Mourinho, Messi vs Ronaldo, the games were often dirty, physical encounters.
It was a pity that the 98000 seats in the Camp Nou were left empty, and it's obviously understandable given Spain's spike in COVID-19 cases. The fans will be back again one day, and in a time of uncertainty they can count on one thing:
El Clasico will always deliver.
#4 Young guns shine for Barcelona
A prevailing story in the air of Barcelona prior to the game lamented the decline of an aging squad. With Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets both getting caught out for the opening goal, there was justifiable proof for that widely-held opinion.
However, Barcelona are also in possession of some of the best youngsters in the game, and they repaid the faith shown in them by Ronald Koeman.
Ansu Fati was brilliant in a false nine role, dropping deep when needed and making incisive runs behind the defense to give Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane a tough time. The youngster is rewriting record books and may very well be the one who Koeman builds around for the future.
Sergino Dest and Pedri also put in impressive performances, which bodes well for Barcelona, results notwithstanding.
#3 Zinedine Zidane defeats Ronald Koeman in a tactical battle
Incredibly, Madrid's reactionary media had questions surrounding Zinedine Zidane's future if Los Blancos were to lose this game. The Frenchman is used to some of the most demanding fans in the world and backed his side to respond.
With Ronald Koeman initially surprising Madrid with Fati playing centrally, Zidane's defense initially suffered. Despite Nacho going off injured, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio answered Zidane's call, with both players holding themselves back to deny Alba making his runs forward.
Madrid were full of running and kept their shape incredibly well, choosing their moments well to go forward. It's a far cry from the performances against Cadiz and Shaktar Donetsk, which is testament to how much Zidane can inspire his players, while also winning tactical battles under massive amounts of pressure.
Zidane has answered questions time and again - perhaps it's time for Madridistas to just trust the man.
#2 Sergio Ramos the man for the big occasion
Sergio Ramos has had his critics this season, but the Real Madrid captain is still one for the big games. The Spaniard had a few nervy moments against the pace of Ansu Fati but recovered as the game went on, bringing calm to the center of Madrid's backline.
In typical Ramos fashion, he ensured the referee was well aware of Clement Lenglet's tug on his shirt. VAR made the correct call, although the consistency of that application is in question. There wasn't much doubt when Ramos stepped up to convert the penalty - he's scored all of the last 25 penalties he's taken.
#1 Leo Messi's 'final' Camp Nou Clasico ends in tears
Given this is in all likelihood Lionel Messi's final season at Barcelona, it was a shame that his Camp Nou faithful were unable to watch him in an El Clasico one final time. Gerard Pique claimed the Camp Nou ought to be named after the Argentinian wizard ahead of this game, and Messi showed glimpses of why.
For all of Ronald Koeman's attempts to reduce Messidependencia, it was little Leo who was the Blaugrana's best player, with most of the attacks centered around him finding Alba down the left. It worked for the opening goal, but as Zidane rejigged his team to ensure Casemiro reprised his favorite role of marking Messi, the Argentinian's influence waned.
It's a sad end to what has been an incredible spell of Clasicos at the Camp Nou, and much like the treatment from his club's board, Messi deserves more.
