Football: Guardiola downplays Barca’s Clasico victory

Defending champions go top of La Liga after stunning Real Madrid 3-1.

MADRID: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola urged his team not to get carried away by the stunning win it registered against bitter rivals Real Madrid as the visitors overcame the shock of conceding a goal after just 23 seconds – the fastest in Clasico history – to win 3-1 and go top of La Liga.

Guardiola is aware that by the time his side return from the World Club Cup in Japan, Real will probably be back on top.

“Real will be the leaders again if they beat Sevilla,” he said. “There’s no point being the ‘champions’ in November or December.”

Despite the early goal from Real’s Karim Benzema, Barcelona levelled through Alexis Sanchez in the 30th minute. Xavi gave the visitors  the lead in the 53rd minute and Cesc Fabregas completed the victory in the 65th. However, Guardiola said he had been expecting a tougher match.

“I thought it would be tougher for us,” he said. “It was a match in which we were going to need some luck. Madrid were always going to create chances, but overall I’m happy with the way things went.”

Mourinho disappointed

Real, who now trail Barca on goal difference, still have a game in hand, but this result brought to an end a 15-match winning streak for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Mourinho admitted that the result was disappointing, but that it was not a make-or-break game.

“The players are sad but calm,” he said. “Before the match we said we had our emotions under control and that this wouldn’t change if we went six points ahead or ended up level in the table.”

Mourhinho believed luck had also played a part in the defeat.

“When we were 1-0 up we had the chance to go two up with an opening, which normally with a player as fantastic as Cristiano Ronaldo would’ve taken, but we didn’t.

“Their second came from a deflection, and no one can see it was anything other than luck. Luck played its part but I don’t want to take anything away from Barca.”

‘We leave on a high’

Barcelona playmaker Xavi said the win proved who the better side was.

“We were superior to Madrid today, despite the mistake we made in the first minute,” he said. “The team produced a brilliant performance and although we know there’s a long way to go we leave here on a high.”

Elsewhere, Levante beat Sevilla 1-0, and Real Betis defeated Valencia 2-1.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2011.