Cristiano Ronaldo Shoots Down High Flying Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo scored late as 10-man Real Madrid stunned Barcelona at the Camp Nou to win El Clasico on Saturday.

Gerard Pique had given Barca the lead before Karim Benzema answered for Real, and soon after Sergio Ramos was sent off Ronaldo found the winner.

Barcelona had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 10th minute when Neymar fed an open Luis Suarez, but the Uruguayan could not get his feet right and the ball fell wide of the goal.
Real Madrid responded as Gareth Bale raced into the box from the wing and tried to square for a teammate but the play was picked out for a sliding Gerard Pique.

But the hosts had more opportunities in the first half, as Andres Iniesta had a powerful shot blocked in front soon after.

As Barca kept up the pressure, Real defender Dani Carvajal was booked for stopping an attack and Lionel Messi’s free kick flew over the bar.

Ivan Rakitic then forced a save from Keylor Navas before Neymar shot well high after a series of fine passes with Messi.

The first major talking point came in the 24th minute when Sergio Ramos collided with Lionel Messi at the top of the box, but referee Alejandro Hernandez waved away Barcelona’s penalty shouts.

Ramos had already been booked for a foul in the buildup to Suarez’s opening chance, but Hernandez ruled he got the slightest of touches on the ball as Messi took him on.

Real then had some chances of their own as Cristiano Ronaldo got off a soft shot and Bale fired a shot high.

And the visitors were on the ascendancy after Suarez received a yellow card after his hand flailed in the face of Pepe.

Ronaldo sent a free kick over the bar from 30 yards on the half-hour mark, and before the break Benzema found himself alone in the centre of the box, but he could not bring the ball down after the pass to him took a high bounce.

As the second half began, Ramos was again fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a foul on Suarez.

Barcelona regained their form and Navas made a spectacular save to deny Messi’s chip in the 55th minute, but the breakthrough came moments later.

Following a Rakitic corner, Pique broke free of Pepe’s marking to head in Barcelona’s opening goal.

But Real Madrid were back level seven minutes later as Toni Kroos’ pass from the wing took a deflection that lofted it high in the air, and Benzema scored with an acrobatic high kick.

And Zinedine Zidane thought his team had taken the lead from Gareth Bale’s header in the 79th minute, but the goal was harshly ruled out as the referee adjudged he had pushed Jordi Alba while leaping for the ball.

Ramos was sent off in the 84th minute for going into the back of Suarez, giving Barcelona the hope they could find a winner.

But Ronaldo silenced the Camp Nou crowd a scant minute later after he controlled Bale’s lofted cross, allowed Alves to pass him by and finished through Claudio Bravo’s legs.