Real’s Bale denies 10-man Barca win in feisty Clasico
LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger signed off in style as they thrashed Burnley 5-0 in his last Premier League home game on Sunday with the kind of dominant performance he would have wanted after 22 years in charge.
Wenger was given a guard of honour from both teams and the match officials before kickoff, and received roars of support throughout the match from the home fans, most of whom had donned their complimentary red “Merci Arsene” T-shirts.
Arsenal’s January record signing, Gabon striker Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, opened the scoring in the 14th minute at The Emirates, racing into the area to guide home Alexandre Lacazette’s cross with the outside of his right foot.
France striker Lacazette then doubled the lead for the Gunners just before halftime, volleying in a low ball from Hector Bellerin on the right side of the goal.
Second-half strikes from Sead Kolasinac, Aubameyang again and Alex Iwobi put the game well beyond Burnley’s reach. Burnley, who narrowly avoided relegation last season but are now preparing for their first season of European football since 1967, with qualification for the Europa League, had been hoping before the game to pull level on 57 points with Arsenal.
Instead, the result means the Gunners will finish the season in sixth place, with Burnley one place behind them in seventh.
The visitors suffered an early setback when Ashley Barnes, their joint top-scorer this season, crashed into the back of Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and walked slowly off the field minutes later, cradling his left arm, to be replaced by Sam Vokes. Arsenal’s emphatic victory, which matched their best result this season, was little consolation for the BARCELONA: Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale lashed home to deny La Liga champions Barcelona victory in an ill-tempered ‘Clasico’ which finished 2-2 at the Nou Camp on Sunday after the home side had Sergi Roberto sent off at the end of the first half.
Luis Suarez volleyed unbeaten Barca into the lead after 10 minutes following a gut-busting run and cross from Roberto while Cristiano Ronaldo levelled for Champions League finalists Real five minutes later from close range.
However, the Portugal forward’s ankle was trodden on by Gerard Pique in the process and he was substituted at halftime. Coach Zinedine Zidane said the injury was “a small thing” and Ronaldo will be fit for the Champions League final.
Bale had risked getting sent off for raking his studs against Samuel Umtiti’s leg but escaped without a booking on that occasion and Roberto was sent off moments later for hitting Marcelo following an off-the-ball tussle.
Lionel Messi scored a mesmerising, record-extending 26th Clasico goal to put 10-man Barca back in front after 52 minutes but Bale, who had contributed midweek loss in the Europa League semifinal to Atletico Madrid, however, which meant they miss out on Champions League football next season. “MERCI, ARSENE” After the game the Arsenal team and staff formed another guard of honour to say farewell to Wenger and captain Per Mertesacker, who will manage the club’s academy next season. The German central defender came on briefly at the end of the match and drew huge cheers every time he touched the ball. Former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper Bob Wilson then led the tributes to Wenger on the pitch, backed by huge letter-boards spelling out “Merci Arsene”.
“He has built the Arsenal that we know and love today. He has changed the face of football in this country. Hundreds of players owe their careers to him,” Wilson told the crowd, all standing for the occasion.
Pat Rice, Wenger’s assistant throughout his years at the club, then presented the 68-year-old Frenchman with the gold “Invincibles” trophy given to the club after their 200304 season, when the team won the league without losing a match.
Wenger first expressed his best wishes for his old rival, former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, who was taken into hospital on Saturday after suffering a brain hemorrhage, before bidding his own farewell to the fans.
“Thank you all for having me for such a long time — I know that’s not easy,” he said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.
“Above all I am, like you, an Arsenal fan,” Wenger said to warm applause before saying farewell. little, silenced the Nou Camp with a thumping strike from the edge of the area in the 72nd.
Champions Barca have 87 points while Real are third in the Liga standings with 72 after 35 games. Atletico Madrid, who lost their unbeaten home record in a 2-0 defeat by Espanyol earlier on Sunday, are second on 75 but have played one game more.
“This was a Clasico with nothing at stake but we saw a great game,” Zidane told reporters. “We both went out to play well and win. We both played a great game and football is always the most important thing, not the controversy.” EIGHT YELLOWS This was the first ‘Clasico’ in a decade which had no bearing on the title race but the game was still played with all the usual passion and tension which makes it the most famous club fixture in Europe.
Referee Alejando Hernandez Hernandez showed a total of eight yellow cards as well as the straight red for Roberto.
Bale was eventually booked as was the usually even-tempered Messi, who made an uncharacteristically aggressive challenge on Sergio Ramos after the Real captain had an ugly confrontation with Suarez which led to both players getting yellow cards.
Suarez appeared to have fouled Raphael Varane in the build-up to Messi’s goal and the Uruguayan forward had a goal ruled out for offside three minutes later.
“Clasicos should be played like this, it was a beautiful game,” Suarez told reporters.
“We wanted to win it, Sergi’s sending off damaged us, especially against a team like Real Madrid. But a draw also isn’t a bad result for us given how the game went.”
Both sides pushed for a winner and Real could have had a penalty when Jordi Alba caught Marcelo but Barca clung on to remain unbeaten in the league with three games to go.
Barcelona’s players remained on the pitch after the game to celebrate their double success with the home fans, having clinched the title last week at Deportivo La Coruna and won the King’s Cup final against Sevilla on April 21.