The Azulgrana clinched a wild victory thanks to a late strike from Kessié.
FC Barcelona edged Real Madrid 2-1 at Camp Nou, with the Catalan club showing greater command for most of the match. When Madrid seemed set to level in the late stages, Xavi’s side struck through Kessié in stoppage time to seal the result.
El Clásico began with Araujo inadvertently deflecting Vinicius’ cross into his own net, giving Madrid the early lead. Real Madrid found Ter Stegen relatively approachable in contrast to the cup clash, yet Barcelona dominated possession and created more chances overall than in previous meetings at the Bernabéu.
Just before the break, Barça leveled through Sergi Roberto after a scrappy spell, a goal earned by the team’s persistence on the field. In the second half, Barcelona emerged stronger, though gaps opened up and the game balanced with opportunities for both sides.
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Ancelotti reshuffled the lineup and with the arrivals of Rodrygo, Ceballos and Asensio the visitors started to threaten more, but a counterattack at a crucial moment decided the match after a well-worked Barca move.
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Post-match reflections from El Clásico Barcelona vs Real Madrid 2022-2023
Ancelotti, in press conference
On the 12 point gap: they have held better form than we have lately. He added that Madrid would keep fighting and give their best in every remaining game.
On the balance of the campaign: the team would continue competing, with no thought of backing down after a loss.
On the lineup changes: the coach explained that the substitutions were about injecting rhythm and energy, while the main system remained intact. The team found its momentum through those adjustments.
Dressing room mood: the staff felt disappointment but pride in their performance. The focus is to produce more matches like this, as they believe wins will come if they keep playing this way.
On the timing of changes: he noted that making several alterations late in the game is unusual but sometimes necessary to energize the squad.
On VAR: doubts linger about an offside decision, but he stressed the need to move forward regardless of that call.
Doubts: he acknowledged lingering questions after the Super Cup but said there should be none after a game of this intensity. He felt the defeat did not reflect the effort displayed.
Offside: he mentioned that semi-automatic VAR had clear moments in other competitions, leaving a lingering doubt about this particular game even though the result stood.
Continuity in the season: January had been tough, but form has improved after the World Cup break, and momentum is building.
Outlook for the team: he expressed pride in the performance, highlighted the substitutions, and stressed confidence for future battles across all competitions.
Vinicius: the coach praised Araujo for neutralizing the Brazilian star and noted a strong performance from Vinicius nonetheless.
Sergi Roberto, after the game
Roberto emphasized that the league stretch remains long, and Madrid cannot be counted out. He called the win an important milestone and praised the team’s collective effort for securing victory with a Franck goal as a turning point.
He added that a single moment favored the team, but the triumph was a true team achievement.
Courtois, after the match
Courtois spoke honestly about the distance to the top and the difficulty of closing it. He praised the fight on the night, noting that the disallowed Madrid goal altered the trajectory. The next objective is to pursue the cup and the Champions League with renewed focus.
Minute by minute
Full time!
Minute 91. Kessié finishes on a decisive counter after Madrid pressed high, securing the win for Barcelona.
Minute 90. Five minutes of stoppage time.
Minute 89. Ansu Fati comes on for Gavi.
Minute 89. Yellow card shown.
Minute 88. Madrid press to find a quick equalizer.
Minute 83. A Madrid goal was ruled offside; the score remains 1-1.
Minute 82. Asensio’s offside is confirmed.
Minute 81. Asensio scores from a Rodrygo setup and Carvajal cross, finishing with his strike.
Minute 79. Benzema’s attempt is saved after a defensive error, ending a promising moment for Madrid.
Minute 75. Kessié subs in for Sergi Roberto at Barça.
Minute 75. Madrid makes three changes; Tchouaméni, Modric and Valverde enter, with Asensio, Tchouaméni and Ceballos following shortly after.
Minute 74. Courtois denies a Raphinha shot following a setup by Sergi Roberto.
Minute 69. Modric booked for a foul on Gavi.
Minute 66. Lewandowski nearly scores with a bending left-foot volley after a second phase of play.
Minute 64. Sergi Roberto booked.
Minute 62. Rodrygo makes an immediate impact with a counter where Vinicius slips before Carvajal recovers and Rodrygo shoots wide.
Minute 61. Rodrygo and Mendy come on for Nacho and Kroos.
Minute 61. Rüdiger wins a key duel with Lewandowski, leading to a goal kick after a tense sequence.
Minute 58. Barcelona dominates but clear chances remain elusive; Lewandowski tests the defense but misses.
Minute 46. The second half begins!
Rest!
Minute 44. Sergi Roberto nets for Barcelona after a sustained pressure: a long-range culmination that beats Courtois.
40 minutes. Barça asks for a second yellow card for Nacho in a potential foul, but the officials do not award it.
Minute 34. Courtois again makes a sharp save against a powerful shot from Raphinha.
Minute 32. Raphinha cautioned for a tackle on Kroos.
Minute 29. Barcelona dominates possession while Madrid counters with pace; a highly entertaining Clásico thus far.
Minute 23. Christensen nearly scores from a second ball after a corner, just missing the target.
Minute 17. Nacho booked for a foul on Araujo, with Madrid teammates contesting a prior call.
Minute 9. Araujo deflects Vinicius’ cross into his own net; Madrid leads early.
Minute 5. Courtois parries a Lewandowski shot after a cross from the left, keeping the effort out in a standout save.
Minute 1. Benzema tests Ter Stegen from distance, denied easily by the German goalkeeper.
Minute 1. El Clásico kicks off at Camp Nou!
20.45 | Players head to the dressing rooms to receive tactical instructions before kickoff.
8.30 pm | Both squads warming up on the Camp Nou pitch as the match approaches.
20:00 | An hour before kick-off, Barça lead Real Madrid by nine points in the standings. A Barcelona win would tighten the title race, while a Madrid win would inject fresh drama into the season.
19.40 | Barcelona confirm their starting XI. Sergi Roberto features in the lineup.
7pm | Real Madrid confirm their starting XI. Ancelotti sticks to the known approach.
6pm | Three hours before kickoff, questions swirl about whether La Liga will be decided tonight or not. Can Madrid pull off a late surge at Camp Nou?
The GOAL preview of El Clásico Barcelona vs Real Madrid in La Liga 2022-2023
- Barcelona has lost five of their last six La Liga matches against Real Madrid, but one of those wins came in the most recent encounter in this fixture.
- Real Madrid has won their last two visits to Camp Nou in La Liga, with a three-match away winning streak historically rare for the club in this rivalry.
- Barcelona has not lost any of their 12 home league games this season, recording a strong unbeaten start at home for 2022-23.
- Real Madrid have not lost in their last five league fixtures, marking a strong streak this campaign.
- Barcelona owns the most clean sheets and the fewest goals conceded after 25 games in La Liga history for this season.
- Real Madrid have reached 50 league goals, as clinical as ever, with high expected goal metrics among Europe’s top teams.
- Barcelona has secured several 1-0 wins this season, a dangerous pattern for opponents in La Liga 22/23.
- Karim Benzema has crafted goals against Barcelona in recent derbies, contributing in multiple ways as Madrid’s main centerpiece.
- Ferran Torres has scored in both La Liga meetings against Real Madrid this season and could join a rare club if he breaks into three clásicos in the league this century.
- Carlo Ancelotti has achieved notable success in this fixture and could join a select group of managers with multiple clásicos wins in La Liga history.
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Confirmed lineups for Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Busquets, De Jong, Sergi Roberto; Gavi, Raphinha and Lewandowski.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Camavinga, Kroos, Modric; Valverde, Vinicius and Benzema.
Source: Goal