David Alaba scored a stunner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first Clasico of the season. Likewise, Sergio Aguero netted his first for the Blaugrana after coming on as a substitute. Elsewhere, Luis Suarez rescued a point for Atletico Madrid, who found themselves 2-0 down to Real Sociedad after 48 minutes.
Sergino Dest – who continued as the right-winger in Ronald Koeman’s reformatted 4-3-3 – missed a glorious opportunity to give Barcelona the lead in the 25th minute. The right-back received the ball in the center of the box, but with just Thibaut Courtois to beat, skied his effort over the bar.
Dest’s miss proved costly as Real Madrid took the lead just seven minutes later. Alaba started the move by winning the ball off Memphis Depay on the edge of his box before running the length of the pitch to score at the other end.
Both teams failed to create clear-cut chances for themselves in the second half, but the crucial moment of the game arrived in the third minute of stoppage time when Lucas Vazquez scored from close range to put Los Blancos 2-0 up. The Spaniard was the quickest to react to the loose ball after Marco Asensio had his shot saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Real were unable to keep a clean sheet, conceding in the final minute of stoppage time. Aguero opened his Barcelona account, as he directed a Dest cross past Courtois from six yards. His goal, however, was not enough to stop Real Madrid from taking all three points at Camp Nou.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are now within a point of league leaders Real Sociedad and with a game in hand. La Real wasted the opportunity to increase their lead at the top of the table after spurning a two-goal lead away at champions Atletico Madrid.
Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring in the 7th minute, while Alexander Isak added a second in the 48th. Atleti rallied back in the final half-hour, and Luis Suarez scored a brace to rescue a point.
