Cesare Prandelli resigns as Valencia coach
Prandelli leaves with Valencia fourth from bottom of the LA Liga table with just 12 points from 15 matches.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos saved his sides bacon yet again as his 90th minute header ensured the latest instalment of El Clásico ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday night at the Nou Camp.
With the result, Madrid’s six-point lead at the top of the La Liga standings is preserved and the result is going to please many in the Spanish capital.
The Los Blancos were lacking the services of Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos, yet dominated the opening exchanges and created the better chances in the opening forty five minutes.
Just after the half-hour mark, the previously anonymous Cristiano Ronaldo sprung into life, going close to scoring twice, only to find Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen equal to the task.
The visitors could have scored just before half-time, when Isco stated a rapid counter-attack but Benzema’s cross was deflected just wide for a corner by a lunging Gerard Pique.
And Barcelona made Madrid pay for their profligacy, with familiar foe Luis Suarez heading home a Neymar free kick in the 53rd minute very much against the run of play. The player was slightly offside and even gave a slight push to Lucas Vazquez, but the goal stood despite Ronaldo’s protests.
After the goal, Barcelona introduced club captain Andres Iniesta at the hour-mark, and the home side started to grow into the game.
Neymar, who has been unable to find the net in recent games, missed two easy chances, which really would have put the game to bed.
Even the normally excellent Lionel Messi, missed a sitter by his standards after a sublime Iniesta through ball had set him up.
Real manager Zinedine Zidane made a puzzling substitution, sending on defensive midfielder Casemiro for Isco despite having the talented James Rodriguez on the bench.
In fact, Madrid made three substitutions, but none of them was the highly-rated Colombian, suggesting how far down the pecking order he is.
All those things were forgotten when the Ramos headed home in the closing stages to ensure Madrid preserve their unbeaten streak which now stretches to 33 games overall. The fact that he, along with two other teammates was unmarked will rankle Barcelona manager Luis Enrique who knows such mistakes at the highest level prove fatal.
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