Sports
11:13, 07-May-2018
Real held to 2-2 draw by 10-men Barca in El Classico
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Recently crowned league champions Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw by their arch-rivals Real Madrid to inch closer to accomplish an unbeaten La Liga season.
Luis Suarez drew the first blood for the Catalans in the 10th minute after firing in from a Sergi Roberto cross. However, Real’s talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo netted the equalizer four minutes later.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (C) shoots to score a goal against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. /VCG Photo
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (C) shoots to score a goal against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. /VCG Photo
But ill-tempered El Clasico took a dramatic turn at the end of the first half as Roberto was shown a straight red card after he appeared to slap Real defender Marcelo.
Real also received a big jolt as Ronaldo was substituted at half-time after suffering an ankle sprain while scoring the goal. A sublime Lionel Messi regained the lead for his 10-men side before Gareth Bale’s stunning equalizer saved Real the blushes on the night.
Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his sides second goal against Barcelona. /VCG Photo
Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his sides second goal against Barcelona. /VCG Photo
This draw helped Ernesto Valverde's side, which officially won their 25th league title last week, stay 15 points ahead of their Madrid rivals, who will take on Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final in Kiev, Ukraine.
The high-voltage game saw eight yellow cards flashed.
Barcelona are now three match away from receiving the modern era feat of winning the La Liga undefeated.