Ramos’ 90th-minute strike lifts Madrid to a tie with Barcelona
Sergio Ramos stepped up once more for Real Madrid in a major match, scoring in the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 tie at Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium Saturday.
“(Ramos) always shows up for games like this one,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “He never gives up. That is what Sergio brings.”
The Spain defender charged in to head Luka Modric’s free kick past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who got a hand on the ball but couldn’t keep it out.
Luis Suarez’s header from a free kick by Neymar had given Barcelona the lead in the 53rd minute, but Barcelona squandered the opportunity to finish off its fierce rival.
The stalemate favoured Zidane’s Madrid, which left Camp Nou with its six-point advantage atop the table intact with Barcelona second.
“Our effort paid off,” Ramos said. “We were able to maintain the difference. We can’t go crazy. There is still a long way to go, but we depend on ourselves.”
Madrid, which also extended its unbeaten streak to 33 consecutive matches, is searching for its first domestic league title since 2012.
In his 12 seasons at Madrid, the 30-year-old Ramos has a knack of striking late in big games, including his headed goal to force added time in the 2014 Champions League final, which Madrid went on to win against Atletico Madrid. He also scored an equalizer — after 90 minutes were up — against Sevilla in this season’s UEFA Super Cup, with Madrid again emerging the winner.
“What we have to highlight is the heart of this team. We believed until the end and got an important draw,” Zidane said.
Ramos’ goal Saturday stunned Barcelona, which was on the cusp of reviving its title defence.
Instead, it has now drawn three rounds in a row and won just two of its last seven matches, a poor run for a side boasting an attack of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
“When you don’t score (for) 2-0, this is what happens,” Suarez said. “We have to stay strong and keep going. … We are still alive.”
Despite having Andres Iniesta cleared to play from a right-knee injury hours before the match, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique decided to keep faith in the same starting 11 that was thoroughly outplayed in last weekend’s stumble at Real Sociedad. Andre Gomes started for Iniesta.
Even though Barcelona played better for stretches, its lack of finishing doomed it to another slip at home, where it has just three wins in seven league games this campaign.
Madrid’s defence controlled a no-frills first half.
With Modric getting plenty of help to keep Messi from scoring for a sixth consecutive “clasico,” the visitors ventured out for a goal attempt just before halftime through Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barcelona got the boost it needed after the restart, when Suarez forced Lucas Vazquez out of the way and nodded in Neymar’s cross that he swerved into the middle of the six-yard box.