(Real Madrid – Barcelona 0-4) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang went from Arsenal wreckage to Barca star in no time. On Sunday, he scored his sixth and seventh La Liga goal in El Clásico itself.
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Aubameyang replaced Arsenal with Barcelona in February and has already made an impression in Catalonia. Also his first El Clásico against arch-rival Real Madrid was a party night for the Gabonese.
28:42 was on the clock when the striker stuck his head out on the first post. Ousmane Dembele’s post was perfect, and it was whistling in the net in the opposite corner.
Still, it was the 3-0 goal-scoring pass that was most impressive from the 32-year-old. The striker could have gone for the end himself, but instead he tricked Nacho with a nice heel flick to a free Ferran Torres who hammered the ball into the net.
– It was a perfect match. Today we have full control. I am pleased with the result and the way we played, says Sergio Busquets in an interview shown on TV 2.
– A very bad match for us. A very good match for Barcelona. The result says it all. It was one of our worst games this season, says Nacho.
Between Aubameyang’s goal and goal scorer, Ronald Araujo also managed to rise to the top on a Dembele corner, where he beat both Alaba and Eder Militao in the air and stabbed the away team up to 2-0.
– It is even more important to score and help the team in a match like this. It was very important to win this match. It’s a huge happiness and it makes me very happy. I remember how much I worked to come here and play these matches, says the midfielder at the press conference after the match.
Then Torres scored, and the league leader Real Madrid seemed to disintegrate against the rival. It was a quiet Santiago Bernabéu who witnessed Aubameyang chip in 4-0 on what everyone thought was offside – but VAR approved the score.
– When they scored the second goal, we had lost control. It was not our day. Sorry to the fans. We have to rest and come back in two weeks. The loss is my fault, and it’s extra tough since it’s El Clásico, says Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
–It was Xavi’s first El Clásico as Barcelona coach. He played 42 games against rivals who play and won 17 of them. The last time was in March 2015, just before he ended his Barcelona career.
– I am very happy. We were much better than them and they were favorites. We played an absolutely spectacular match. This is a spectacular experience, says Barcelona coach Xavi and continues:
– I have said it before, in addition to being a coach, I cheer for this club. I think it’s the best club in the world. We will celebrate and enjoy this victory now.
He himself has also been involved in a big win against Real: All 5-0 in 2010. Xavi scored one goal and controlled the midfield as a maestro.
– It was the highlight of my career, Xavi has said.
Twelve years later, he can add a new highlight, now in his coaching career, thanks to Aubameyang.
“Aubameyang is a gift that has come down from heaven,” Xavi said after the 4-0 victory against Osasuna last Sunday.
He has hardly changed his mind.
La Liga expert Petter Veland had the following to say about Barcelona’s transformation under Xavi to VG earlier this week:
– I am a little positively surprised and impressed that he has managed to manage player types such as Ousmane Dembélé, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traoré – players who are not necessarily prototypes of Barcelona players. He has managed to be flexible in the way he plays football and his opponents have rarely had plans to curb all the plans.
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