As sound a pummeling as Madrid are ever likely to suffer.
Real Madrid’s pursuit was for nothing. Even 17 victories in 18 unbeaten matches were not enough; in the 19th match, Barcelona, the last side to beat Real, arrived at the Bernabéu and beat them again. Destroyed them, in fact. It was not just that Barcelona’s 6-2 victory, secured with two each from Thierry Henry and Leo Messi, plus one from Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué, carried them seven points clear with four matches remaining. It was that they left their rivals in tatters, turning the Santiago Bernabéu’s battle cry, briefly revived in the second half, into a murmur of impotence.
Sid Lowe, the Guardian, 2nd May, 2009
A fine choice, what a classic.