BARCELONA: Barcelona snat­ched a 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid with Franck Kessie’s late goal Sunday to move 12 points clear at the top of La Liga.

The victory dents Real’s ambitions of retaining the title and leaves the Catalans close to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2019.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real took the lead through a Ronald Araujo own goal but Barcelona pulled level when Sergi Roberto tucked home just before half-time.

Both sides had chances to win the game and Marco Asensio struck for Madrid, but the goal was ruled offside by VAR, before Alejandro Balde set up Kessie in the 92nd minute.

“It’s not definitive but it’s a very important step,” Xavi told reporters. “Twelve points clear at the top of La Liga, we are having an extraordinary league campaign.”It was Xavi’s sixth Clasico as Barcelona coach but only his first at Camp Nou.

Xavi asked fans to make the stadium a pressure cooker and they responded, selling it out, whistling Real in possession and conjuring one of the best atmospheres of the season.

However, they fell behind in unfortunate circumstances. Araujo deflected Vinicius’ cross in at the near post, with Marc Andre Ter Stegen helpless.

Araujo has enjoyed his duels with Vinicius in the past but this time the winger triumphed, albeit fortuitously. Barcelona supporters became enraged by his emphatic celebration in front of them.

It was the first goal from open play Barcelona have conceded at Camp Nou in La Liga all season long, and only the second strike at home and ninth overall.

Barcelona were building up steam and found the breakthrough just before half-time, from an unlikely source.

Selected in place of injured midfielder Pedri, Sergi Roberto was in the right place at the right time to control a loose ball in the box and arc it beyond Thibaut Courtois.

Madrid substitute Asensio fired home but the goal was ruled out for offside after a nervy wait for VAR instruction.

“We did not win because of an offside that we’re still doubtful about,” complained Ancelotti.

“I was not so sure. We have doubts about it, and we go back to Madrid with this doubt.”

Barcelona seemed content with the draw but Kessie’s last-gasp strike sparked wild celebrations at Camp Nou.Earlier Real Sociedad held on to fourth place with a 2-0 win over Elche on Sunday. They are under pressure from Real Betis and Villarreal who both won too.

Betis, fifth, are three points behind the Basque side after they beat Mallorca 1-0, while Villarreal, sixth, thrashed Osasuna 3-0 on the road and sit four points behind the Andalusians.

Sevilla fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Getafe as their topsy-turvy season continued, leaving Jorge Sampaoli’s side 14th and two points above the drop zone.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2023