Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has claimed that his side’s four-goal El Clasico defeat against Barcelona last month was a 'chance accident'.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the opener for Barca in the 29th minute in his first El Clasico fixture when he managed to beat his man at the front post and divert his header past the helpless Courtois from close range. Ronald Araujo was then left unmarked from a corner to double his side’s lead just nine minutes later.
Xavi’s Barca turned on the class in the second half and very easily could have won the match by six or seven if they were more clinical in the closing stages. Former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres whipped a fine strike into the top corner just moments after the half-time break following a skilful assist from Aubameyang. The summer signings then combined to score the fourth when Torres played a neat pass through to Aubameyang, who beat the offside trap and looped a cute chip over Courtois and into the back of the net to complete the humbling for Los Blancos.
A four-goal away victory in the fixture is an eye-catching result at the best of times but particularly this season in favour of the Catalan giants, such is their points deficit to Madrid at the top of La Liga. Despite being unbeaten in the league since early December, Barca – who do have a game in hand – sit a whopping nine points from their fierce rivals at the top of the standings.
Furthermore, Madrid have progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League after dramatic victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea respectively, while Barcelona have been dumped out of the Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt.
Recounting the loss again Barca, Real Madrid shot-stopper Courtois said: "It was a very bad night, but we recovered quickly. You do not have to think too much about the loss. I am disappointed, of course, but I think that with the results and our attitude in both the games before and after it has become clear that it was a chance accident."
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Speaking of his side’s memorable win over PSG, when they came from two goals behind in the tie to win thanks to a stunning quickfire Karim Benzema hat-trick, the goalkeeper added: "It was a wonderful dream. I am convinced that very few people in the whole world were betting on it after the first half. Everything was against us, but we did it. It was one of those many nights when I feel the luckiest to play at Real Madrid."
While results have massively improved at Barca under Xavi, they are now set to finish the season trophy-less while Madrid are closing in on the league title and still harbour ambitions of winning the Champions League again.
