Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona, El Clasico: Merengues Squander Golden Chances As Blaugranas Win 3-1

The former Miami Fusion and DC United manager who now serves as Phil Schoen’s sidekick on GolTV broadcast is well know in the soccer community for his colorful commentary and penchant for unleashing a myriad of quasi-poetic outburst during matches. Sometimes he just squawks like a bird whose tail feathers have just been pulled, but love him or hate him, Hudson brings a uniqueness to soccer color commentary that no one else has managed to even get close to.

Hudson was at his typical best on Saturday in the latest iteration of El Clasico and I’ve collected his best lines for your enjoyment.

The tale began in late November of 2010. The setting was Camp Nou and the recently appointed Mourinho, who had knocked Barcelona off their European perch in the previous Spring with Inter Milan, had brought about the optimism that he could bring similar achievement at Real Madrid. What resulted was a legendary 5-0 Barcelona victory and the worst defeat in Mourinho’s impressive career. The Special One’s tactics were questioned in the aftermath of that disaster but essentially what occurred is that Barcelona harshly set the bar and served notice that the task was monumental.

The Real Madrid manager fielded his side, perhaps surprisingly, in a 4-2-3-1 shape and it was perceived that the inclusion of Mesut Özil, along with three forwards, showed attacking intent. However, his side defended deep in what was effectively a 4-3-3, and it was Xavi’s opening goal in the 10th minute that forced his side to come out from their defensive shell and seek an equaliser. This proved disastrous.

Come now Kaka, that’s not very sporting...but it’s certainly funny.

The only disappointing thing about this clip is the fact the camera panned to follow the referee, keeping us from enjoying Xavi’s stunned reaction to being suddenly bonked in the head with the ball. Oh well, after all the nastiness these matches have contained of late, a little fun is a welcome event.

Saturday was supposed to be the day that Real Madrid flipped El Clasico on its head. Barcelona had been dominant of late, but Madrid had surged to the top of La Liga with some fantastic play and were ready to continue that form against their rivals at the Bernabeu. It wasn’t to be though, as Barcelona showed why they have been the dominant team in Spain and all of Europe in recent years by coming back from a goal down to defeat their rivals in Madrid, 3-1.

That miss from Ronaldo came back to bite Madrid at the half-hour mark when Messi dribbled through the midfield and slipped an incredible pass into the path of Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean latched onto the pass and did well to clear some space for himself before ripping a shot that Casillas had no chance at to level for the visitors.

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

Here is the miss by Cristiano Ronaldo. Considering what happened just minutes later, the gravity of the mistake is amplified.

...and here is Cesc Fabregas’ lovely diving header finish of a wonderful Dani Alves assist:

Just like when Alexis Sanchez scored in the first half, the goal was against the run of play and another frustratingly disappointing moment from Mourinho’s men. Doesn’t help either that Ronaldo wasted two dangerous free kick opportunities just minutes before.

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

Casillas is already committed to his right, and so the entire Madrid team can only watch as the redirected shot trundles towards the other post and bounces in to give the Catalans a 2-1 lead. It’s an undeserved goal, but you make your own luck, right? How will Madrid respond to this setback?

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

So it’s take two for Ronaldo, who manages to beat the wall with his second attempt but ends up hitting the ball straight at Victor Valdes. You’d expect better from Madrid with a pair of dangerous free kicks and so much on the line - those were much better chances to make it 2-1 than they ended up looking. We’re still all square here.

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

It took just 21 seconds for Madrid to get on the board, but it was more about Victor Valdes than anyone for the home side. The normally sure-footed goalkeeper gave the ball to Angel di Maria just 25 yards from goal with a dreadful pass and di Maria found Mesut Ozil. Ozil’s shot was blocked, but it fell to Benzema right in front of goal and the Frenchman hammered it home for a shockingly early goal.

Then in the midst of Madrid’s dominance, Messi and Alexis Sanchez connected for a brilliant goal to level things. Messi dribbled through the Madrid midfield then slipped a fantastic ball into Sanchez, who was running diagonally across. Messi did most of the tough work, but Sanchez still had some work to do himself, which he did splendidly to open space for the shot before hitting it well to beat Casillas for the equalizer.

↵

↵Bad Alexis Sanchez.

Barca are somewhat unlucky not to be given what would either be a penalty or a free kick at the very edge of the area when Pepe comes across and clatters Sanchez, but referee David Fernandez Borbalan completely ignores it and lets play continue. Looked like a foul to me, although there’s some suggestion that the Chilean exaggerated contact (surprise!).

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

*This is a joke so don’t get all pissy.

It was another brilliant pass from Messi who has basically made a living out of being brilliant for the Blaugranes. Alexis Sanchez however is a newer name for some, though after scoring in his first El Clasico, if you didn’t know who the young Chilean was before, you certainly do now.

Mourinho and Madrid will not be happy after having controlled the match from the opening whistle but you had to figure they couldn’t keep Barca’s dangerous attacked bottled up all night. Then again, not being able to stop Messi from making an amazing pass isn’t necessarily something to be ashamed of.

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

For all of our live coverage throughout the game, keep it on our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico StoryStream. For more on the two teams, head over to Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. For more from around the world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter and bookmark SB Nation Soccer

Would the Special One have traded an early goal for a potential injury to one of his key players? I’m not sure, but at least he does have that 1-0 lead.