The Barcelona attacking trio – the so-called MSN (Messi, Suárez and Neymar) faced the so-called BBC Benzema, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, the attacking trio of Real Madrid.
Of the six players involved, one came out the clear winner: Luis Suárez.
By the end of the first half, Real Madrid had been playing well enough to have the whole Camp Nou on the edges of their seats, many of the Barça faithful fearing the worst.
But in the end, plaudits go to Luis Suárez and his goal which decided this Clásico. Suárez shouted out his celebration with the veins in his neck standing out, because in that cross shot from the right, about which Casillas could do nothing, there was a lot more involved than just making it 2-1 and achieving victory for his team. It was a cry of freedom after long months of many a wagging tongue doubting the player’s real worth.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also among the goals, though the one he got at the end of the day did not count towards any points, though there was one good chance when he hit the bar. Karim Benzema, with his cheeky backheel when assisting with the equaliser, showed his class, but Bravo prevented him making the score 2-1 to Real Madrid in the second half from a close shot.
Bale was sacrificed to defensive duties as never before, and he did manage to put the ball in the back of the net, but it was disallowed. Soon after that he almost scored again, but his shot from close in went narrowly wide.
Leo Messi was not inspired, though in the second half he did look for the ball more and try to marshal the Barcelona attack, but it was not his night. And it wasn’t Neymar’s night either – he desperately sought goals but could not find them and lost himself in encounters with his opponents.
Without doubt, the true winner of the MSN-BBC clash was Luis Suárez.
