BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Defenseman Sergio Ramos has once shown why he is at the center of Real Madrid by taking the team to a 3-1 win in Barcelona, with a bit of the video referee assistant.
Ramos created and scored the purpose of victory in his first match of the season at an empty Camp Nou on Saturday, one more victory Ramos has led in his long career at Madrid, especially since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure two years ago.
Ramos’ importance to Madrid resulted in consecutive defeats on the eve of his fiercest rival. Ramos was withdrawn from the loss at half-time to Cadiz by a knee injury last weekend that also marked him for Shakhtar’s defeat as champion on weekdays. , the team was listless and old-fashioned.
With his back barking orders in the middle of his defense, Madrid, the competitive and compact team that won the League in Barcelona last season.
We are also key in the opposite area when he used his tricks to fight Clement Lenglet to earn a position for a higher ball. With Lenglet pulling his shirt, Ramos fell to the lawn and complained vehemently. After watching the video screen on the band line, referee Juan Martínez ruled that Lenglet had prevented Ramos from playing the ball.
He sent Ramos to the penalty spot where he fired a shot past Neto to repair Madrid’s lead in the 63rd minute.
“Lenglet and I are pushing our defense to the limit, and in that case, it is very clear,” Ramos said. “He caught me as I jumped. The VAR is there to help and I think it’s a penalty. Then we went for a third purpose after taking this morale hit rather than just sitting down.
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman disagreed.
“The resolution of the penalties had a big influence on the scoreboard,” Koeman said. “First it was a lack of Ramos on Lenglet. Lenglet grabbed his shirt, but not enough to take down the player. At least not enough to keep the jugador. de away from you, but to draw the player to you, so, for me, it’s not a shame.
Madrid lead the League with thirteen issues. Barcelona have seven problems with an ongoing match, and additional tension when they arrive at Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Camp Nou is usually a cauldron for the Classic. The faithful of Barcelona greet both sides with massive mosaics in the blue and burgundy colors of the club and use their 90,000 lungs to make it as uncomfortable as possible for visitors. On Saturday, Europe’s largest stadium warmed through a bright but empty sun unless reserve players wearing face masks.
Koeman’s first classic in his project to rebuild the team that won a trophy last season prompted big decisions to play two teenagers and leave Antoine Griezmann on the bench. Koeman surprised by starting Pedro “Pedri” González with his compatriot Ansu, 17 years old. Fati in attack.
Pedri did not shine, but Fati was barcelona’s engine in his new attacking position, Lionel Messi’s striker.
Koeman also features newcomer Sergio Dest, the American defender inspired by his Vinunius Junior marking and his forays from the right wing.
To recreate the atmosphere a little before the start, the club broadcast recorded sounds of enthusiasts making a song while players warmed up and played a recording of the club’s anthem.
Federico Valverde scored within five minutes of Madrid when he took a deep ball from Karim Benzema and blew it up at the time of the post.
Fati responded three minutes later. The aspiring star stabbed her fifth goal in six games with a pass from Jordi Alba after Messi discovered her left back with a balloon on her left back.
Barcelona moved forward after the resumption when Dest and Alba discovered from the flanks, and Fati discovered Coutinho with a center that the Brazilian nodded in the side network.
That’s when Ramos leaned in favor of Madrid.
Koeman sent strikers Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Francisco Trinco and Martin Brathwaite in the past to press for the tie.
With his defense exposed, Neto resisted as long as he could, making three saves until replacement Luka Modric pulled him off the line and fired in Madrid’s third game.
“We know what Sergio means to us, he’s more than a player,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “We deserved victory. We may have scored more.
OTHER RESULTS
Marcos Llorente and Luis Suárez scored in Atlético Madid’s 2-0 win over Real Betis, Sevilla fell home to Eibar 1-0 and Osasuna beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0.
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