Barca hero Cesc: El Clasico win over Real was ‘brutal’

Posted Monday, December 12, 2011 by The Sun

CESC FABREGAS called Barcelona's El Clasico triumph "brutal" after he bagged the clincher against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

The former Arsenal skipper headed Barca's crucial third goal in a 3-1 triumph in Madrid and set his sights on winning the Club World Cup.

Fabregas, 24, struck after 66 minutes and insisted this win was almost as sweet as lifting the World Cup and Euro 2008 with Spain.

He said: "This was brutal. I've won important things in my career but this is very special for me. The first half was difficult but in the second half we played a great game.

"We played 70 minutes with a three-man defence and to win 3-1 here at the Bernabeu says a lot about this team. This gives us confidence for the Club World Cup."

Barca immediately flew to Japan for the global club showpiece as European champions.

Pep Guardiola's La Liga title-holders go level on points at the top of the table though Madrid have a game in hand.

An estimated half a billion TV viewers saw Madrid go in front after 22 seconds as Victor Valdes gave the ball away and Karim Benzema pounced.

But Argentine wizard Lionel Messi set up Alexis Sanchez for the equaliser and when Xavi's shot was deflected home off Marcelo early in the second half Barca were in the clear.

Real's Cristiano Ronaldo missed gilt-edged chances at crucial times before before Fab's clincher.

Mourinho said: "We had a chance for 2-0 that normally Cristiano, who's a fantastic player, would score."