Betting tips / Michael Lintorn / 13 December 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Michael Lintorn analyses what Barcelona's first Clasico win of the season, for the third year in a row, might mean to this year's La Liga.

Guardiola is still the puto amo
That term, roughly translated as "effing master", was once used by Pep Guardiola to describe Jose Mourinho in an angry reaction to some mind games, but the Barcelona boss proved again that he deserves that billing in the dugout. This was his 12th Clasico without a 90-minute defeat - winning six of seven in La Liga - and arguably his greatest tactical success, boldly omitting Javier Mascherano and David Villa and then tweaking to transform a game that Real Madrid were controlling early on.

Barcelona are worthy title favourites
The joke that the La Liga title race boils down to two Clasicos, with the other 36 matches irrelevant, carries a grain of truth, as the team who secured the head-to-head edge claimed top spot in each of the last seven campaigns. So while it seems absurd that one result has pushed Real Madrid out from [1.56] to [2.04] and Barcelona in from [2.8] to [1.97], it is logical. If the champions match their rivals for the remainder and beat them at the Camp Nou for the fourth straight year, they will finish first.

Ronaldo won't win the Ballon d'Or
The stats show that there is very little separating Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. With such tight margins, the ability to shine in these showdowns is therefore what most use to judge who is better, and though for once he didn't net and should have seen red, Messi won that duel again. Ronaldo missed two major chances and has struck just twice in ten Clasicos, with one of those goals coming from the penalty spot. In the same period, Messi has scored seven.

The less often they meet, the greater the spectacle
Real Madrid's challenges grew fiercer as the final whistle crept closer, but on the whole this was a Clasico that will be remembered for its positives: the quality of the football, the tactical battle and fairly respectful post-match comments from both camps. There wasn't even a sending off for once!

Alves remains a huge asset
Barcelona's occasionally criticised Brazilian right back showed his worth, his assist setting up the decisive third goal for Cesc Fabregas. It was the sixth time this term that he had played provider in La Liga, leaving him on course to maintain his stunning average of 12 a season over the last five years.

What did you make of the encounter? Share your thoughts below...