Football story by Vinnie Mitchell, Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:32:00 GMT


Brazilian star Ronaldinho scored two wonderful goals as Barcelona emerged emphatic winners in the derby against rivals Real Madrid at the Bernebeu with 3 goals to Madrid's 0.

“He was phenomenal after the break,” Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona coach, said after the match. “Some of the things he did were fantastic. He is so quick but with so much control of the ball.” Ronaldinho's skills were so superlative that even the normally reticent Madrid crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Truly football knows no boundaries even in the fierce atmosphere that the Barcelona-Madrid games are played in! The home team looked hapless from the start and even the presence of big names like David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane could not give them the fillip to score even a single goal.

For Barcelona, Samuel Eto'o began the scoring just 15 minutes into the game with a low finish that had no answers from Real's Iker Casillas. In the second half it was all Ronaldinho, who slotted one past the Madrid goal just after the hour mark.

It was after 77 minutes that his second and Barca's third goal brought the Real spectators onto their feet as they applauded one of the modern game's greatest players. Ronaldinho acknowledged the fans' after the match, “The victory wasn't as easy as the score line suggests,” he said. “To win 3-0 we had to take our opportunities well. There is still a long way to go in the league.”

But judging by tonight's display, Barcelona have one hand on the trophy and Real will find the going very tough if they have to have any say in this year's championship. . “We came into the game with a lot of people returning from injury. When everyone is fit, we will improve. I still think we will win the league," said Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the Real coach.

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