5 best El Clasico performances of the 21st century

3. Barcelona demolish Real Madrid 6-2 at Bernabéu

Sometimes the biggest games in soccer throw up the strangest results. Matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona are normally closely contested games that are decided by one or maybe two goals.

On the odd occasion, there’s a standout result in which one team just has everything go for them on that day. Fortunately for Barcelona, more often than not in the 21st century they’ve been the team that have ended up on the right side of these results.

They’ve had some fantastic wins in El Clasico but very few more unbelievable than their 6-2 victory at the Bernabeu in 2009. It seems almost inconceivable Real Madrid could be beaten by such a hefty scoreline at home but if anyone was capable of it it was this Barcelona side.

While there were great individual performances in this game it was the team performance that really caught the eye of the world. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side were taking the world by storm that season and Real Madrid were just another victim along the way.

Barcelona could have been out of sight by halftime but a failure to take their chances meant Real Madrid stayed in the match. Guardiola’s side looked to have pulled away at 3-1 but then Madrid managed to pull it back to 3-2 and give themselves some hope.

Los Blancos‘ revival was short-lived and Barcelona pulled away to win the match 6-2. Barcelona’s side featured the likes of Henry, Carles Puyol, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Andres Iniesta and, of course, Messi. However, it was the way they played as a team that made this victory so special.

Guardiola has brought this style of soccer to Germany and now England and it’s clear that the team mentality he develops is almost unbeatable.