LaLiga Nigeria were at their best again after fans of LaLiga Santander in Lagos were treated to a lavish and thrilling fanfare of the ElClásico on Sunday.
The Landmark Beach in Lagos provided the wonderful platform as LaLiga fans in Lagos watched Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first ElClásico for 2020.
At the venue to watch the epic ElClásico Live presented by Livermore was four-time African footballer of the year and ex-Barcelona forward, Samuel Eto’O, alongside two of Nigeria’s finest-ever footballers, Mutiu ‘Headmaster’ Adepoju, a LaLiga Ambassador, and Daniel ‘day bull’ Amokachi.
In what was arguably the best ElClásico atmosphere witnessed by this ACLSports reporter, Lagos fans didn’t disappoint as they supported their respective giants throughout the night.
But before the game kicked off, Eto’O met with the very excited fans who cheered and chanted his name and the now-retired footballer returned the favour in pidgin; “how far now, Naija?” he said.
Before then, during a private session with Journalists present, this reporter asked the Cameroonian legend to name his best 5-a-side made up of just African players and he said;
“It is complicated (to name them), because there have been so many (good players) i can’t remember.”
To the match itself, it was a keenly contested affair between the two fiercest rivals, who frustrated and entertained their fans at the Bernabeu and Landmark in equal measure.
The hosts had failed to beat Barcelona in their last seven ElClásico matches, with four losses and three draws and another defeat on Sunday would have seen them record their worst ever run of games without a win in the history of this tie.
Therefore, it was no coincidence that Los Blancos started the tie like they really meant business but both sides failed to find the back of the net in a lively opening 45 minutes despite creating the opportunities to do so.
However, after the restart, it was the home side who continued to ask better questions and eventually found answers through two unlikely (if you permit me) players, Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz.
With 19 minutes left to go, Vinicius broke the deadlock to send Real Madrid fans at home (in the Bernabeu and Madrid) and the Landmark Beach into a frenzy.
Madrid were in control now, but when Lionel Messi is on the pitch, a game is really not over until the referee blows the final whistle.
But it was Madrid’s day when Diaz came off the bench to seal the match and three points with a similar goal to Vinicius’ but this time via the right-wing in what was his first game this season for Los Blancos in the LaLiga.
2-0 it ended in favor of Zinedine Zidane’s men, who put an end to their seven-game winless streak against Barcelona with the win which also sees them move to the top of the Santander on 56 points, just one point above former leaders, Barcelona, who drop to second on the log.
In summary, Real Madrid may have won the ElClásico this time at the Bernabeu following an incredibly productive second half, but the real winners on Sunday were LaLiga Nigeria, who brought the spirit of the ElClásico to Lagos fans in partnership with LiveScore and their other sponsors like Big Cola and Budweiser, and put together an electrifying atmosphere that ended quite literally in fireworks.
A worthy experience for everyone involved (especially the fans), and we certainly look forward to the next ElClásico as both clubs switch attention to the Eibar and Marlloca respectively, before turning their focus to the Champions League.
