Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo Gives Real Madrid Pivotal 1-1 Draw

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The Portuguese Real Madrid winger converted a penalty in the 81st minute to give Los Blancos, reduced to 10 men, a crucial goal and a 1-1 draw in a drama-filled affair at the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid were controversially awarded a penalty when Dani Alves reached on a tackle to try and thwart a charging Marcelo. Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes vehemently argued referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez’ call to the point Fernadez gave the Barca netminder a yellow card for dissent.

Ronaldo calmly fired right while Valdes guessed left and Madrid’s hope was anew.

Lionel Messi countered with a pair of dazzling runs but the Catalans couldn’t find the winner.

Hero Marcelo teamed up with Emmanuel Adabayor to threaten Barcelona in the waning moments, but like Barca, were unable to find the winner.

Madrid have to be relieved for even earning a pivotal draw. It doesn’t help their effort to catch the Catalans—Barcelona leads Madrid by eight points in La Liga—but leading into Wednesday’s Copa del Rey final and two additional Champions League tilts following that, it may have been tough for Los Blancos to rebound from another defeat at the hands of their fiercest rivals. Barcelona crushed Real Madrid 5-0 at the Camp Nou on November 29.

If the next three matches meet the intensity of Saturday’s Clasico—bring it on.

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