Barca suffered their first league defeat of the season at the Bernabeu tonight, though they still stay top of La Liga table. Despite a strong first half performance, Madrid's greater sharpness in front of goal gave them the points.
尽管巴萨得到了这个赛季的第一场失利，但是他依旧在积分榜领先。
A goal at the start of each half, from Raul (2) and Van Nistelroy (50) was enough for Madrid to overcome the reigning champions whose trade mark quality football fell down in the final third where their finishing let them down. Even so, Barca stay two points ahead of their eternal rivals and remain top of the Spanish League.
Attacking tactics
Rijkaard made clear his intentions with the choice of Iniesta, Xavi and Deco in midfield- a skilful trio who after a strong start from Madrid began to impose their one touch football on the more physical Madrid midfield. Madrid's early goal -a Raul header from a Sergio Ramos cross on 2 minutes - allowed them to play their preferred counter attacking game, whilst Barca enjoyed the majority of possession. Madrid could indeed have gone further ahead in the first 20 minutes when Raul hit the bar and Valdes was called on to stop at Robinho's feet.
Messi takes the lead
Soon though, Barca began to impose themselves on the game with an inspirational Messi carving the Madrid defence apart on more than one occasion. First, on 24 minutes, he dribbled past Roberto Carlos and Cannavaro, to set up Gudjohnson, only for the Icelander to fire over, then a few minutes later he himself blasted high after being put through by Iniesta. Gudjohnson was also unlucky not to be given a penalty when Segio Ramos bundled him off the ball in the box.
Emerson lucky to stay on
Real Madrid were being forced onto the back foot and Ronaldinho and Messi suffered a series of heavy tackles as the home team desperately tried to halt Barca's waves of attack. Emerson was very lucky indeed to avoid a second red on 42 minutes after chopping down the Argentinean, but Madrid managed to reach half time with their goal intact and with 11 men still on the pitch, even though Barca certainly looked capable of turning the result around.
Van Nistelrooy finishes the game off
Barca came out with the same attacking intentions in the second half, but just when they looked most likely to threaten the Madrid goal, Van Nistelroy rounded off a rapid Madrid counter attack to make it 2-0 for the home team.
Two nil up, despite Barca's superior football, Madrid now limited themselves to managing their lead and trying to hit Barca on the break. Rijkaard threw on Giuly and Saviola for Deco and Gudjohnson, but despite chances for Ronaldinho and Saviola, Barca failed to reproduce the pace and passing of the first half and the final few minutes of the game were notable more for the pouring rain at the Bernabeu than by any great football.
