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Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona and the best five La Liga games of 2011
As we bring the curtains down on another fascinating year in Spanish football, Goal.com looks back at the best games in the Primera Division over the past 12 months
Dec 26, 2011 7:00:00 AM
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Barcelona and Real Madrid's exceptional duopoly in Spain over the last few years has seen La Liga reduced to a predictable two-horse title race in recent seasons.
But the attacking spectacle and theater that is Spanish football has produced countless thrillers in the Primera Division in the last 12 months, and it's not just the perennial 'Big Two' who have supplied the nail-biting drama.
Osasuna staged a sensational fightback from two goals down to see off Sevilla 3-2 to escape relegation last season; Real Sociedad scored twice in the final two minutes to beat Malaga 3-2 earlier in December, a game now made famous by Carlos Vela's acrobatic bicycle kick; Sporting Gijon and Real Zaragoza ended Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten league home record; and even though Sevilla held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw this term, there were fireworks aplenty, thanks largely to Javi Varas' heroics.
It wasn't easy to whittle the list down to just five, but here are Goal.com's pick for the best La Liga games of 2011.
Los Che may be La Liga's third-best side over the last 12 months, but they are unparalleled when it comes to providing drama on the field.
Their 2-2 against Barcelona in September was a particular highlight, while they were also engaged in another 4-3 rollercoaster against Racing Santander this term.
But last season's topsy turvy clash with Malaga in January set the tone for the rest of the year. Salomon Rondon gave Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead after only 10 minutes, but Juan Mata equalized seven minutes later. Rondon struck again just past the half-hour mark, only for Roberto Soldado to restore parity shortly after the restart. Ever Banega put Valencia ahead for the first time in the game, but Malaga made it 3-3 with 10 minutes to go. As per any good Hollywood script, there would be a winner at the death: Aritz Aduriz found the net in the 90th minute to give Los Che a 4-3 victory. All the while, the visiting Andalucians had Martin Demichelis dismissed after just 15 minutes and had to play the final 25 minutes with nine men when Helder Rosario was also ejected.
Both Mallorca and Atletico had plenty to play for on the final day of the 2010-11 season. The Balearic Islanders needed a win to ensure La Liga survival, while the capital side were chasing automatic Europa League qualification.
Atleti raced to a 3-0 lead after 60 minutes thanks to a Sergio Aguero brace and a Juanfran strike. Over in La Coruna, Deportivo - who entered the game just one point behind Mallorca in the relegation zone - were only trailing Valencia 1-0. If the club was to equalize and the scorelines stayed that way in both games, it would be Mallorca who would go down. Sensing the predicament, the islanders attempted to stage a comeback. Jonathan De Guzman and Pierre Webo pulled the game back to 3-2, but Aguero crushed their hopes by making it 4-2 to Los Colchoneros. Webo netted again to reduce arrears to 4-3 in injury time, just one minute after Valencia extended their lead over Depor.
Mallorca failed to find an equalizer, but they successfully avoided relegation despite the loss. Atletico, meanwhile, were unable to secure an automatic Europa League spot despite the win, as Kun bade farewell to his club and La Liga with a hat-trick.
Despite San Mames gaining notoriety for being a hellish ground to visit for Spain's top clubs, Athletic had not won at home against Barcelona since 2006.
But the club came extremely close this season as the Catalans needed a late, late goal from its talisman to salvage a draw.
Ander Herrera gave the Basque giants the perfect start when he curled in a delicious shot from the edge of the box, becoming the first player in almost 900 minutes of competitive football to beat Victor Valdes. But the joy lasted only four minutes as the in-form Cesc Fabregas put the Blaugrana back on level terms with a looping header. Ten minutes from time, Athletic regained its lead when Gerard Pique put the ball into his own net. As the clock ticked down, it looked more and more certain that Los Leones would get their first home win over the Catalans in half a decade... until the final minutes of the game. First, Athletic were reduced to 10 men when Fernando Amorebieta was sent off; then, Lionel Messi capitalized on some disastrous goalkeeping and defending to salvage a 2-2 draw in the 93rd minute.
Recent Clasico blockbusters have not always been the most intriguing, especially since Barcelona's rise under Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho turning the field into a war zone.
But this season's league clash at the Santiago Bernabeu had none of the prematch theatrics and on-field antics. Mourinho, sensing that his players had closed the gap on Pep's Barca, allowed his team's football to do the talking on the pitch.
It was indeed one of the more closely-contested Clasicos of the past few years, notably in the first half when Madrid took chunks out of Barcelona's usual ball possession and even sent the home faithful into raptures just seconds into the game when Karim Benzema gave Los Blancos a dream start. But Mourinho's troops couldn't keep up the intensity, allowing Alexis Sanchez to equalise 15 minutes before the break. The men in white pummelled their arch-rivals' goal early in the second half, but a Marcelo own goal on 53 minutes turned the game on its head as the wind was knocked out of Madrid's sails, Barca rediscovered their dominance, and Lionel Messi turned on the magic, playing a part to set up Cesc Fabregas as the Blaugrana put the proverbial nail in the coffin.
Widely regarded as the best game of the 2011-12 season so far in terms of the quality at show, the drama, and excitement from first 'til final whistle.
From the frenetic start, where Valencia threatened to score in the opening few seconds, to the controversial finish when Unai Emery's men surrounded the referee demanding a penalty - claiming Gonzalo Higuain had blocked a goal attempt with his arm - there was the small matter of five goals and nine yellow cards in between. Karim Benzema opened the floodgates in the 20th minute when he took down Xabi Alonso's quick free-kick and rifled in a shot across goal in one swift move.
It was the only strike in the first half, but the final 18 minutes was when the contest really exploded. Sergio Ramos made it 2-0 to Real Madrid in the 72nd minute, only for Roberto Soldado to pull one back three minutes later. Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had buried the game - and Valencia spirits - for good 10 minutes from time, but Soldado struck again to ensure a nail-biting finish, which culminated with Higuain's block from Soldado's volley right in front of goal.
But the attacking spectacle and theater that is Spanish football has produced countless thrillers in the Primera Division in the last 12 months, and it's not just the perennial 'Big Two' who have supplied the nail-biting drama.
Osasuna staged a sensational fightback from two goals down to see off Sevilla 3-2 to escape relegation last season; Real Sociedad scored twice in the final two minutes to beat Malaga 3-2 earlier in December, a game now made famous by Carlos Vela's acrobatic bicycle kick; Sporting Gijon and Real Zaragoza ended Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten league home record; and even though Sevilla held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw this term, there were fireworks aplenty, thanks largely to Javi Varas' heroics.
It wasn't easy to whittle the list down to just five, but here are Goal.com's pick for the best La Liga games of 2011.
| 5. VALENCIA 4-3 MALAGA (January 22) |
 |
Their 2-2 against Barcelona in September was a particular highlight, while they were also engaged in another 4-3 rollercoaster against Racing Santander this term.
But last season's topsy turvy clash with Malaga in January set the tone for the rest of the year. Salomon Rondon gave Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead after only 10 minutes, but Juan Mata equalized seven minutes later. Rondon struck again just past the half-hour mark, only for Roberto Soldado to restore parity shortly after the restart. Ever Banega put Valencia ahead for the first time in the game, but Malaga made it 3-3 with 10 minutes to go. As per any good Hollywood script, there would be a winner at the death: Aritz Aduriz found the net in the 90th minute to give Los Che a 4-3 victory. All the while, the visiting Andalucians had Martin Demichelis dismissed after just 15 minutes and had to play the final 25 minutes with nine men when Helder Rosario was also ejected.
| 4. MALLORCA 3-4 ATLETICO MADRID (May 21) |
 |
Atleti raced to a 3-0 lead after 60 minutes thanks to a Sergio Aguero brace and a Juanfran strike. Over in La Coruna, Deportivo - who entered the game just one point behind Mallorca in the relegation zone - were only trailing Valencia 1-0. If the club was to equalize and the scorelines stayed that way in both games, it would be Mallorca who would go down. Sensing the predicament, the islanders attempted to stage a comeback. Jonathan De Guzman and Pierre Webo pulled the game back to 3-2, but Aguero crushed their hopes by making it 4-2 to Los Colchoneros. Webo netted again to reduce arrears to 4-3 in injury time, just one minute after Valencia extended their lead over Depor.
Mallorca failed to find an equalizer, but they successfully avoided relegation despite the loss. Atletico, meanwhile, were unable to secure an automatic Europa League spot despite the win, as Kun bade farewell to his club and La Liga with a hat-trick.
| 3. ATHLETIC 2-2 BARCELONA (November 6) |
 |
But the club came extremely close this season as the Catalans needed a late, late goal from its talisman to salvage a draw.
Ander Herrera gave the Basque giants the perfect start when he curled in a delicious shot from the edge of the box, becoming the first player in almost 900 minutes of competitive football to beat Victor Valdes. But the joy lasted only four minutes as the in-form Cesc Fabregas put the Blaugrana back on level terms with a looping header. Ten minutes from time, Athletic regained its lead when Gerard Pique put the ball into his own net. As the clock ticked down, it looked more and more certain that Los Leones would get their first home win over the Catalans in half a decade... until the final minutes of the game. First, Athletic were reduced to 10 men when Fernando Amorebieta was sent off; then, Lionel Messi capitalized on some disastrous goalkeeping and defending to salvage a 2-2 draw in the 93rd minute.
| 2. REAL MADRID 1-3 BARCELONA (December 10) |
 |
But this season's league clash at the Santiago Bernabeu had none of the prematch theatrics and on-field antics. Mourinho, sensing that his players had closed the gap on Pep's Barca, allowed his team's football to do the talking on the pitch.
It was indeed one of the more closely-contested Clasicos of the past few years, notably in the first half when Madrid took chunks out of Barcelona's usual ball possession and even sent the home faithful into raptures just seconds into the game when Karim Benzema gave Los Blancos a dream start. But Mourinho's troops couldn't keep up the intensity, allowing Alexis Sanchez to equalise 15 minutes before the break. The men in white pummelled their arch-rivals' goal early in the second half, but a Marcelo own goal on 53 minutes turned the game on its head as the wind was knocked out of Madrid's sails, Barca rediscovered their dominance, and Lionel Messi turned on the magic, playing a part to set up Cesc Fabregas as the Blaugrana put the proverbial nail in the coffin.
| 1. VALENCIA 2-3 REAL MADRID (November 19) |
 |
From the frenetic start, where Valencia threatened to score in the opening few seconds, to the controversial finish when Unai Emery's men surrounded the referee demanding a penalty - claiming Gonzalo Higuain had blocked a goal attempt with his arm - there was the small matter of five goals and nine yellow cards in between. Karim Benzema opened the floodgates in the 20th minute when he took down Xabi Alonso's quick free-kick and rifled in a shot across goal in one swift move.
It was the only strike in the first half, but the final 18 minutes was when the contest really exploded. Sergio Ramos made it 2-0 to Real Madrid in the 72nd minute, only for Roberto Soldado to pull one back three minutes later. Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had buried the game - and Valencia spirits - for good 10 minutes from time, but Soldado struck again to ensure a nail-biting finish, which culminated with Higuain's block from Soldado's volley right in front of goal.
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