Real rubber stamp title with clasico romp

Real Madrid rubber stamped their victorious season with a 4-1 demolition of their eternal foes at a rainswept Bernabeu.

After the Catalans had formed a guard of honour for the newly crowned champions, Raul got the Blanco party started when he curled a fine shot past Victor Valdes for his 18th goal of the season.

Eight minutes later it was two as Robben nodded in Guti’s free kick for his second in four days.

Exuding confidence all over the pitch, Los Merengues toyed with their arch-rivals, Guti and Robben both forcing good stops from an overworked Valdes.

Marcelo nearly slid in a third just after the restart before Xavi hacked Mamadou Diarra’s shot off the line.

Supersub Gonzalo Higuain then continued his recent scoring streak, slotting home with ease after Diarra’s mazy run had opened up the Barça defence.

Valdes denied Marcelo as goal-hungry Real continued to press, and at the other end a rare Barcelona foray saw Bojan Krkic shoot straight at Iker Casillas.

Robinho joined the fun with 18 minutes remaining and quickly forced a penalty when Carles Puyol handled his cross, the returning Ruud van Nistelrooy coolly making it four from the spot.

The Brazilian nearly laid on a second for the Dutchman moments later before Casillas thwarted Lionel Messi with a stunning fingertip save.

Spain’s No1 was powerless to prevent Thierry Henry grabbing a late consolation for the Azulgranas, but on a night when the hosts showed their championship-winning pedigree it was too little too late.

REAL MADRID 4-1 BARCELONA

Date: 07/05/08
Kick-off: 22.00 (local time)
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)
Referee: Perez Burrull
Goals: Raul 12 (1-0); Robben 20 (2-0); Higuain 62 (3-0); Van Nistelrooy 77 pen (4-0); Henry 86 (4-1)
Bookings: Wesley Sneijder, Gabriel Heinze, Pepe (Real Madrid); Toure Yaya, Rafael Marquez, Thierry Henry, Victor Valdes, Xavi (Barcelona)
Sent off: Xavi (Barcelona)

Attendance: 80,000

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo; Diarra, Gago; Sneijder, Guti (Robinho 72), Robben (Higuain 61); Raul (Van Nistelrooy 76)
Coach: Bernd Schuster

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Zambrotta, Puyol, Marquez (Sylvinho 46, Edmilson 60), Abidal; Toure, Xavi, Gudjohnsen (Giovani 23); Messi, Bojan, Henry
Coach: Frank Rijkaard

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