Real Madrid: Ranking the 5 best games of Carlo Ancelotti’s first term

4. LaLiga 2014/15: 3-1 win vs Barcelona on Matchday 9

A Clasico is always the biggest clash for both Real Madrid and Barcelona. In every season the Clasico usually comes at a decisive time for both the clubs, but in 2014/15 the first meeting came as early as Matchday 9. Carlo Ancelotti had not won a Clasico in the league yet, and Real Madrid having a poor start to the campaign meant that they had to step up big time in the biggest game.

But disappointingly, Real Madrid had a bad start to the game as Neymar had scored the opener within the 4th minute. But then Ancelotti’s men started building the pressure with some neat wing play and crosses into the box. Benzema was the target of those, but he couldn’t convert them, and he came as close as hitting the bar, with a header of a beautiful cross from Cristiano Ronaldo.

With Real Madrid players pushing forward in numbers, Barcelona created some dangerous chances on the break. Luckily for Los Blancos, Iker Casillas was stopping everything and Leo Messi missed a sitter on the big night. This gave further motivation to Real Madrid, whose pressure finally paid off as the Merengues won a penalty with Pique blocking a cross with his hand. Ronaldo wouldn’t commit any mistake from the spot as he duly converts the penalty with confidence, and brought Real back into the game.

From that point, there was no stopping Real, as they took control of the proceedings, and kept running with speed at Barcelona. They finally took the lead in the 50th minute, with a bullet header from Pepe off a Toni Kroos corner ending up in the net. The defence continued to be solid, and they never let Barcelona trouble Casillas.

Benzema then added the final goal of the evening, by finishing a well-coordinated counter-attack, something which explains the brand of Carlo Ancelotti’s football. The highlight of the buildup to the goal was a foot race between Andres Iniesta and Isco, in which the former Malaga man won near the halfway line and didn’t make any delay to find the onrushing Cristiano Ronaldo, who would then pass to James Rodriguez. The Colombian takes advantage of the disorganized defence and releases Benzema, who scores the goal and kills Barcelona’s hope of winning the game.

3 goals, 3 points, and a jump from 3rd position to 1st. Great night for Real Madrid.