One of the biggest days in the football gambling calendar provide to be something of a letdown for neutral fans looking to enjoy the next installment of the El Clasico story. Each year the meetings of Real Madrid and Barcelona see a large amount of money placed as bets on the teams and players in the Spanish league. However, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi only fit enough for the bench and rumors of Christiano Ronaldo unhappy with new Real boss Rafa Benitez the stage was set for other stars of the teams to lead the way. A 4-0 scoreline did not flatter Barcelona who ran out easy winners and resulted in captain Andres Iniesta being given a standing ovation from Madrid fans when he was substituted.
The backdrop to the Barcelona victory was one of Messi returning from injury and Madrid seeming to be in turmoil after an underwhelming start to the season. Rumors had spread in the week before the latest installment of the Spanish classic that Portuguese star Ronaldo was looking for a move away from the club to former employers Manchester United or big spending Paris Saint-Germain. The object of his unhappiness had been the appointment of former Liverpool coach Rafe Benitez during the close season. By the end of the game the capacity crowd in Madrid were also showing their unhappiness with Benitez by bearing white handkerchiefs in disgust at the result and the reign of Benitez.
In reality, Real were a long way behind their La Liga rivals who are now six points clear at the top of the table. In the absence of Messi for Barcelona the star player was another former Liverpool employee Luis Suarez who scored two to set Barcelona on their way to victory. Unlike the problems facing Benetiz, his Barcelona counterpart Luis Enrique announced the victory in Madrid was historic. After failing to halt the strike force of Suarez and Neymar who had scored all 19 goals Barcelona created during Messi’s injury the Madrid captain Sergio Ramos apologized to fans for the debacle.
Midfield play maker Iniesta was on hand to add a goal of his own before being substituted had a hand in almost everything good achieved by his club and explained the importance of the four goal victory. The Barcelona captain explained after the game that despite the six point gap opened up with their main La Liga rivals Barcelona expect goal difference to play a major role in deciding the title at the end of the season. The role of Benitez at Real Madrid now seems to have reached a crisis point with increased rumors stating Ronaldo wants the former Napoli manager replaced in a bid to push the team forward for the remainder of the season.