* Portuguese nets stunning winner at Nou Camp
* Real seven points clear at the top with four games left
(Adds details, byline)
By Iain Rogers
BARCELONA, April 21 (Reuters) – Real Madrid have one hand on
a first La Liga trophy in four years after Cristiano Ronaldo
scored a brilliant winner in a 2-1 victory at Barcelona on
Saturday that stretched their lead over their bitter rivals to
seven points with four games left.
It was Real’s first win in eight La Liga ‘Clasicos’ and
could have an impact on confidence for next week’s Champions
League semi-final second legs when Real host Bayern Munich and
Barca entertain Chelsea.
On a rain-swept night at the Nou Camp, when Real also set a
new record of 109 goals scored in a league season, Sami Khedira
was sharpest to react when Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes
dropped the ball at a corner.
The Germany midfielder bundled it over the line for a
17th-minute lead.
Barca had started nervously and lacked their usual fluidity
and once Real were ahead they defended solidly and rarely looked
like conceding as Barca stroked the ball around on the slick
surface without real penetration.
The noise volume inside the giant arena rose after
substitute Alexis Sanchez finally scrambled the ball in for the
equaliser with 20 minutes left but the home fans were silenced
three minutes later.
Mesut Ozil’s superb pass released Ronaldo on the right and
he took the ball wide before smashing it home.
MOURINHO TRIUMPH
The goal, extending his La Liga record tally for the season
to 42, was the best response to critics who accuse the
Portuguese of flopping in big games and he is now one goal ahead
of Barca forward Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring chart.
Barca had won six Clasicos and drawn one since coach Pep
Guardiola took over in 2008. It was a first victory in the
contest for Guardiola’s Real counterpart Jose Mourinho in four
attempts.
As well as virtually wrapping up the title, Real’s win ended
Barca’s 11-match winning streak in the league and inflicted a
first defeat on the Catalans in 35 league matches at the Nou
Camp and in 55 home games in all competitions.
It was a triumph for Portuguese Mourinho, the combative
former Barca assistant coach whom Real took from Inter Milan two
years ago to try to end Barca’s three-year grip on the Spanish
title.
Mourinho may yet have another crack at his old club in the
Champions League final although they trail Bayern 2-1 and Barca
are 1-0 down to Chelsea after this week’s first legs in Munich
and London.
Saturday’s match followed a similar pattern to Wednesday’s
game at Stamford Bridge, with Barca dominating possession but
struggling to find a way through a resolute defence.
The Spanish and European champions suffered back-to-back
defeats for the first time in nearly three years and now need to
regroup for Tuesday’s clash with Chelsea.
(Editing by Mark Meadows)
