El Clásico XXL. Match One a draw

Last nights El Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in the Spanish Primera Division ended in a one-all draw and didn't create the sparks as the first-leg game had had on November 29, 2010 when Barca trashed Real Madrid 5-0 in a one sided display of modern day football.

What gives the El Clásico even more importance is that both clubs meet four times over a two and a half week period with both clubs still having the chance for a rare treble. The first meeting yesterday was in the Spanish league, then they meet again in the final of the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) on Wednesday, 20 April; which will be followed by their two-legged UEFA Champions League semifinal - on April 27 at Real's Santiago Bernabéu and Barca hosting the second game on May 3 at the Nou Camp.

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid was sold out with 80,354 spectators and if Real Madrid had any more ambitions on winning back the Spanish La Liga title then a win was a must as Barca went into the game with an eight point lead at the top of the table.

Real coach Jose Mourinho started the game on a defensive note after the drubbing in the last game with Sami Khedira, Pepe and Xabi Alonso giving the task to block Barca's short pass game in midfield. It did work as Barca had more of the ball, but Real Madrid the better chances in the first half.

The game really came to life only in the second session as proceedings became more intense. Real Madrid had the first chance of the half as a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick dropped onto the crossbar, but only minutes later Raul Albiol would bring down David Villa to earn Barca a penalty and a straight red for Albiol. Lionel Messi would take the resultant penalty to give Barca a 53rd minute lead.

Thereafter Barca didn't push for a second against a 10 men Real Madrid and they paid the price when Dani Alves brought down Marcelo with referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez once more pointing to the spot. Cristiano Ronaldo would walk up to take the penalty and score in the 82nd minute past Victor Valdes to give Real a deserving draw.

But the draw means Barca remain eight points ahead of Real Madrid with six matches to go and having lost only one match all season it looks like that the Catalans will retain the Primera Division title.