Neymar's absence was clearly felt in the Barcelona



It was a so..so.. night for Cristiano Ronaldo and a bad night for Barcelona fans in the Nou Camp as Real Madrid through goals from Asensio, Cristiano Ronaldo and an own goal from Gerard Pique on Sunday night, gave Real Madrid enough advantage heading into the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup- even though Cristiano Ronaldo was red-carded few minutes after scoring a goal for his side. 
Ronaldo was booked for his celebration, ripping his shirt off and then holding it up like Lionel Messi did at the Santiago Bernabeu last season, and seconds later was booked for diving, making him unavailable for the next leg unless the decision is appealed.
Neymar's absence was clearly felt in the Barcelona ranks as chances were hard to create especially on the left flank of Barcelona's attacking line with Luis Suarez left isolated at times.
 This was the first time the clubs played each other since Neymar's £198million move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, didn't start the match due to his lack of fitness as he had just recently come back from hliday and was lacking match fitness.
The first half was filled with exchanges between both sides- tackles, shots, tactical battles, but produced no goal despite the presence of  Messi, Suarez and other star men for Barcelona.
Few minutes after the start of the second half, Marcelo charged down the left side before cutting the ball back but Pique just couldn't get out of the way of the ball making it to come off his boot and  swerve way past Ter Stegen.
In he 72nd minute, Ronaldo put the ball in the Barcelona net but it was disallowed after he was adjudged offside. Both sides were now playing free flowing football and it looked like he match could swing towards any direction. In the 75th minute, Barceona got what they were looking for, as Suarez fell to the ground after getting minimal contact with Keylor Navas, and Messi didn't waste time to slot the ball into the net.
Score; Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid
In the 79th minute, with the score at 1-1, Isco played the ball through the middle to Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward teased Pique before shifting the ball on to his right foot and curling magically beyond Ter Stegen. Ronaldo, feeling like the 'football god' that he is, removed his jersey to celebrate, showing off his well sculped body frame in the process- the referee didn't waste time to give him a yellow card.
Real Madrid were on the counter attack, in the 83rd minute and Ronaldo fell to the ground following minimal contact with a defender, only for the referee to shockingly display a second yellow card and then a red card to the world's most popular athlete.
Ronaldo, angry and frustrated, shoved the referee!
But that was not all as Barcelona ere pegged back again by Asensio, who took the ball and flashed in with his left foot, a goal that Ter Sterggen could certainly do nothing about.
With or without Ronaldo, Real Madrid go into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu with a massive advantage. Hala Madrid!!!
Neymar's absence was clearly felt in the Barcelona Neymar's absence was clearly felt in the Barcelona Reviewed by masterplannermp on 08:03 Rating: 5

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