Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid: Sergio Ramos' late header hands Los Blancos a share of the spoils - 10 things we learned

Luis Suarez's header early in the second half looked to have handed Luis Enrique's men victory, only for Sergio Ramos to secure a point for the European champions

It had to be him.

With the clock ticking and Real Madrid heading for their first defeat of the season, Sergio Ramosrose highest to head home.

His goal cancelled out another header, from Luis Suarez, which looked to have earned Barcelonavictory in the latest instalment of El Clasico.

As a result, Luis Enrique's men remain six points adrift of their rivals at the top of the league.

Here are 10 things we learned from Camp Nou...

1. Barca's regret

Even at this stage in the season, Barcelona had to win here.

A six-point gap to their rivals before kick-off was bad enough but nine would have left them a mountain to climb.

And for more than half an hour, it looked as if Barcelona would haul themselves to within touching distance of the league leaders.

That was until Sergio Ramos struck what could prove to be a considerable blow.

2. Football remembers

From the Chapecoense shirt slung over Neymar's shoulder as he entered the stadium, to the fans' personal tributes, the Camp Nou stood as one to remember those from the Brazilian club who died in the plane crash earlier this week.

Players from both sides stood shoulder to shoulder before kick-off as the supporters fell silent and Barcelona's club anthem El Cant del Barca rang out.

3. Talking tactics

The hitherto impressive Mateo Kovacic was deployed on the left with his Croatian countryman Luca Modric partnering Isco in midfield, which meant no place for the more defensive minded Casemiro.

He had returned from a two-month injury lay-off in the 6-1 thrashing of Cultural Leonesa in midweek but was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.

The Brazilian was introduced in the second-half as Isco was withdrawn but was unable to make an impact.

4. Bale missed

It might not be cutting-edge analysis to suggest Real Madrid missed the injured Gareth Bale in the biggest match of the season so far; but it is true.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were paired up front in a 4-4-2 formation but struggled to trouble the Barcelona back-line.

Ronaldo fired a couple of efforts high and wide but he and his strike partner spent more time on the ground than they did posing a threat.

5. Spot on?

The opening minutes were as frenetic as you'd expect and the visitors were left bewildered when their early appeals for a penalty were turned down.

Javier Mascherano's left leg clearly came across Lucas Vazquez and the Spaniard tumbled to the ground, but referee Carlos Clos Gomez was unmoved.

Barcelona wanted a spot-kick of their own minutes later when they claimed Sergi Roberto's cross hit the hand of Sergio Ramos but replays showed it hit the defender in the chest.

6. Waste of money?

Inflated transfer fees were all the rage this past summer and Andre Gomes' £25.5million move from Valencia to Barcelona is proving to be among the worst. The Portuguese retained his place in midfield despite Andres Iniesta's return from injury, but he was a virtual bystander.

All too often the 23-year-old allowed Modric and Isco to ghost past him as if he was taking part in an impromptu Mannequin Challenge.

It was a surprise, then, when Luis Enrique chose to leave him on when he made his first change - bringing on Andres Iniesta for Ivan Rakitic.

7. Main man Modric

There is surely only so long Luca Modric can be hailed as Real Madrid's unsung hero. The midfielder completed 36 of his 37 attempted passes in the first-half and left barely a blade of grass uncovered.

Perhaps his quite demeanour and unassuming personality will mean he never gets the recognition he deserves but there are few better players in his position right now.

8. Messi misses Iniesta

Having started from the bench, Andres Iniesta was brought on by Luis Enrique with his side in front in the second half, much to the delight of the home crowd who had been singing his name as he warmed up.

The maestro had not played since the 3-2 win over Valencia in October but his introduction helped spark Lionel Messi into life. The Argentine had been forced to come deep in a bid to jolt his side into life but Iniesta gave him the licence to do what he does best.

He should have made the game all but safe with 10 minutes to go however, only to drag his shot wide.

9. Neymar off colour

He might have set up Luis Suarez for the opening goal, but Neymar had an otherwise frustrating afternoon.

In a feisty first-half, he followed Isco into the referee's book when he raked his studs down Lucas Vazquez's ankle.

That booking rules him out of Barcelona's trip to Osasuna next weekend.

10. Ramos rescues Real

Cometh the last minute, cometh the man.

Just as he did against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final two years ago, Sergio Ramos came to his side's rescue.

Barcelona only have themselves to blame for conceding a free-kick in such a position at such a point in the match - and Arda Turan will hardly have endeared himself to the home side with the foul.

Ramos' leveller extends Real Madrid's unbeaten run to 33 games but Zinedine Zidane will be counting his lucky stars after what was a poor performance.

A la altura de un colista (2-1) GRANADA-SEVILLA FC

El Sevilla firma su actuación más gris del presente curso y cae con justicia en su visita al endeble Granada. Sampaoli pensó en este partido, pero sus jugadores lo hicieron en el Lyon.

Bajonazo en las expectativas del Sevilla de Jorge Sampaoli. Tanto hablar antes de tiempo del segundo puesto de la clasificación, dependiendo del resultado del Barcelona-Real Madrid, y el equipo nervionense mostró su peor cara del curso en su visita al Granada, hasta entonces colista de la categoría. Lógicamente, cayó derrotado y lo hizo por su propia incapacidad en lasvísperas de una de las citas más trascendentes del ejercicio. Tal vez ese litigio contra el Lyon, anunciado para el próximo miércoles en la ciudad francesa, tuviera mucho que ver con el pobrísimo nivel enseñado por los futbolistas que vestían amarillo albero, pero tampoco debería servirles como excusa para justificar semejante mezcla de incapacidad y desidia.  

Porque hay que puntualizar con celeridad que Sampaoli no se guardó absolutamente nada con vistas a ese partido a vida o muerte con el Lyon en la Liga de Campeones. El argentino puso sobre el césped del Nuevo Los Cármenes a todos los futbolistas teóricamente titulares que tenía a su disposición, además de darle la camiseta a su compatriota Correa por los méritos contraídos en la cita copera contra el Formentera. El mensaje del entrenador, por tanto, no era conformista, ni muchísimo menos, pero la respuesta que halló en sus pupilos no pudo ser más decepcionante a la hora de realizar el balance global de la cita con el colista. Y no se es repetitivo cuando se insiste en la palabra colista porque el Granada, hasta ahora, había acumulado sólo 5 puntos en su casillero por ser un equipo tremendamente dadivoso en la zona de atrás.

El problema es que ese mensaje de Sampaoli no caló en unos deportistas con la cabeza distraída en otra batalla a la que ellos les dan mucha más trascendencia mediática. Se trata de la Liga de Campeones y, por culpa de ese gol de Tolisso en Turín, los focos ya estaban todos puestos en Lyon. Eso provocó que muchos futbolistas del Sevilla estuvieran con la cabeza en otro lado. Particularmente llamativo fue el juego de N’Zonzi y de Rami. Son los dos elementos de la alineación que jugarán el miércoles en su país natal y puede ser una casualidad, o no, pero ambos rindieron muchos puntos por debajo de lo que han mostrado hasta el momento. Tanto que tuvieron una elevada cuota de responsabilidad en el desastre generalizado desde su mala participación en el gol que adelantó al Granada en el marcador. N’Zonzi perdió la pelota y ni siquiera hizo por volver hacia atrás para recuperarla; Rami se olvidó de la marca dentro del área para ponerle muy fácil el remate a un Andreas Pereira que prácticamente golpeaba la pelota como si la portería estuviera completamente vacía.

Es el momento en el que el Sevilla empieza a perder el partido en Granada, aunque aún quedaba un mundo por delante, nada más y nada menos que una hora enterita contra el colista para haberle dado la vuelta a aquello. El cuadro de Sampaoli, en los movimientos de piezas habituales del técnico, arrancaba con cuatro defensas atrás, con Mercado en el lateral izquierdo, y eso provocaba que toda la profundidad estuviera en la derecha por parte de Mariano y que el fútbol se volcara hacia este lado. El Granada, mientras, partió con intensidad y con presión a la salida del balón para asustar algo en el arranque.

Pero eso duró muy poco y después se entró en una fase de completo dominio del Sevilla. Pero ya se pudo ver ahí el problema ofensivo de este equipo. El Granada prácticamente le regalaba las opciones de hacerle daño, pero los visitantes, con Vietto, Correa y Franco Vázquez dando muestra de una inocencia desesperante, jamás sacaban ventaja de ello. Llamativo fueron dos malos controles de Vietto y Correa cuando podían plantarse solos delante de Ochoa. Fueron algunas de las no oportunidades por impericia de los delanteros forasteros.

Sí tuvo algo más de peligro un cabezazo de Correa nada más marcar Andreas Pereira y un disparo de Mariano que salvó Lombán bajo los palos poco antes del descanso. Se esperaba mucho más del Sevilla tras el intermedio, pero esta vez Sampaoli tardó en mover el árbol y los suyos seguían igual de fallones cuando les regalaban las ocasiones los defensas del Granada. El mejor ejemplo fue el disparo alto de Vitolo tras dejarle la pelota con todo a favor Gabriel Silva. Y así llegó el 2-0para que el Lyon se agigantara en el pensamiento de un Sevilla que se olvidó de la obsesiva conseja del partido a partido. Jugaron los titulares, pero con la cabeza en otra parte. Mala cosa hacer el ridículo contra el colista precisamente en las vísperas de un examen tan definitivo.

SPAIN: LaLiga - finished

	StandingsSPAIN: LaLiga
	09:00	Finished	Granada CF	2 - 1	Sevilla
	12:15	Finished	Barcelona	1 - 1	Real Madrid
	14:30	Finished	Leganes	0 - 0	Villarreal
	16:45	Finished	Atl. Madrid	0 - 0	Espanyol

West Ham 1-5 Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez runs riot and destroys hapless Hammers - 5 things we learned

The Chilean striker put on an attacking masterclass to tee up Mesut Ozil then score a second-half hat-trick in a thumping win for Arsene Wenger's men

Awesome Alexis Sanchez hit a hat-trick as Arsenal demolished West Ham and piled the pressure on Slaven Bilic.

Mesut Ozil hit a tap-in to open the scoring on 24 minutes. Sanchez then struck in the 72nd, 80th and 86th minutes with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain adding a screamer.

Substitute Andy Carroll bagged a close range consolation but angry West Ham fans deserted the London Stadium long before the finish with the club deep in relegation trouble.

Sanchez, the preferred choice up front for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, has now scored 13 goals this season.

West Ham have still won only three times and Bilic’s side face in-form Liverpool next week.

1. Easy for Arsenal

The manner of Mesut Ozil’s winner, a tap in from six yards, summed up the ease with which the Gunners wrapped this up. Seldom can have they come up against a more passive, defensively shambolic West Ham side.

The Gunners should have been further ahead by half time that just their single goal. Nacho Monreal rampaged down the left while the Hammers struggling to cope with the movement of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

2. Ox leaves Hammers in the soup

He has complained publicly about not getting enough chances but he has since taken his opportunity with aplomb.

The Ox was involved with everything that was good about Arsenal’s performance here. He breached the Hammers backline with a wonderful through ball that Sanchez overran. He ghosted into space just after the half hour mark and although his shot left a lot to be desired West Ham were simply unable to cope with him.

Late in the first half he raced to the by-line down the left and lofted a super cross in to the back post.

Had Theo Walcott showed more belief to get in there he’d have had a sitter.

3. West Ham’s defensive woes continue

Where on earth do you start?

Fair enough, they were without Aaron Cresswell at left-back and lost James Collins after just seven minutes. But at times West Ham were all over the place here. Edmilson Fernandes seemed unsure as whether he was supposed to pick up in midfield or help substitute Alvaro Arbeloa who looked ring-rusty to say the least at right-back.

As a result, Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain slipped though at will. In fact, Arsenal should have scored after the Spaniard skipped down left left for the umpteenth time and cut the ball back to Aaron Ramsey. Darren Randolph pulled off a superb double save to keep out the Welshman and Mesut Ozil from the rebound.

As for the opening goal, Slaven Bilic will have been furious. Experienced former Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna dithered on the ball in midfield before sending it straight to Francis Coquelin in midfield.

Sanchez was then put through and the Chilean squared it for Ozil. Easy.

4. The magnificent Sanchez

Time and again it has been said that Arsenal are a far better side with the Chilean up front and yet again he proved it. Sanchez turned Arthur Masuaku, left the Frenchman wondering which way he’d gone, then, under pressure, angled a powerful drive across Randolph and into the bottom corner. It was a goal of class and composure.

His second, from the edge of the area, you could put down to poor marking but was still a fine finish. His brace was a reward for his relentless running and tireless industry.

Olivier Giroud’s numbers may be decent enough but Sanchez is a man that makes Arsenal fans breathe more easily. With Sanchez up front they can win the title. With Giroud not so much.

5. Manuel Lanzini a bright spot for the Hammers

How he did not square the ball for Fernandes when through on goal during the first half only he will know.

But the Argentine was lively, creative and one of the Hammers’ main hopes of a revival in this contest.

Time and again he was the one probing, prompting attacks and driving at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

He probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves because of the large shadow cast over him by Payet, but Lanzini’s importance to the West Ham side cannot be underestimated.

Tottenham 5-0 Swansea City: Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen bag a brace apiece as Spurs run riot - 5 things we learned

Dominant display from Spurs as they cruise to victory at White Hart Lane and pile the pressure on Swansea City manager Bob Bradley

Tottenham thrashed Swansea to cut the gap to the top four to one point.

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen both scored twice and Heung-Min Son also struck as Spurs claimed only their second win in 11 games.

Spurs broke the deadlock in the 39 minute when Kyle Naughton was adjudged to have tripped Dele Alli in the box and Kane swept home the penalty.

Son made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with a stunning acrobatic effort.

Kane finished off a sweeping move four minutes after the break to make it 3-0.

And Eriksen rounded off the win when he bundled in no. 4 after Lukasz Fabianski denied Alli, before adding a fifth and final goal with a smart finish.

Here are five thing we learned from White Hart Lane...

1 Battle of the pace merchants

Tottenham's fullbacks were the clear winners of the battle of the speedsters down the two flanks.

Swansea boss Bob Bradley handed Jefferson Montero his first start of the season and had Moudou Barrow down the right wing.

The move was an attempt to limit the forward forays of Spurs' flying full-backs Kyle Walker and Rose.

But the opposite happened as not only did the Spurs duo have few problems keeping the Swans pair in check, they were also much more effective going forward.

2 Return to form for Dele Alli

Dele Alli hasn't yet been able to replicate the incredible heights he hit last season this term.

But there were encouraging signs of that form coming returning against Swansea.

The fancy footwork was back and Alli was involved in most of Spurs' best work.

He caused Swansea real problems with his runs from deep, movement and the positions he took up.

He had a hand in all four goals too, winning the penalty for the first after one of those runs from midfield and was involved in the build up to Spurs' second and fourth goals.

3 Swansea punished for lack of ambition

Swansea were well beaten and offered little going forward.

But they can count themselves a little unlucky to concede the goal gave Spurs the momentum.

There looked to be little, if any, contact as Dele Alli ran across Kyle Naughton.

But referee Jonathan Moss ruled that Naughton had fouled the Spurs star, pointed to the spot, Harry Kane dispatched the penalty and the rest is history as Swansea fell apart.

It was a tight call and one that could easily have gone the other way.

4 Super Son makes an impact

Heung-Min Son produced a moment of magic that could well pop up in the goal of the season competition.

His acrobatic strike to make it 2-0 was arguably the highlight of the game.

The South Korean showed brilliant reactions and incredible technique to leap into the air and send a scissor kick screaming past Lukasz Fabiasnki.

It was his fifth goal of the season, matching his tally from the whole of last season.

Mauricio Pochettino it will kickstart his scoring form as Son had been without a goal since September before his spectacular strike.

By contrast, Victor Wanyama produced one of the misses of the season in the second half. 

5 Swansea's Spurs struggles continue

Swansea have a poor record at White Hart Lane and against Spurs in the Premier League and that continued today.

They have now only won once at Spurs in 22 attempts and that victory was way back in 1978.

They are also still waiting for a first Premier League against Spurs having lost nine and drawn two of the 11 games between the two sides

Manchester City 1-3 Chelsea: Antonio Conte's side mount stunning comeback - 5 things we learned

Goals from Diego Costa, Willian and then Eden Hazard flipped a wild game on its head at the Etihad - but it could have been very different

Chelsea came from behind to emerge victorious in the top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City and make it eight Premier League wins in a row.

City took the lead just before half-time when Chelsea defender Gary Cahill put the ball beyond Thibaut Courtois and into his own net.

But the visitors levelled through Diego Costa on the hour, the striker then turning provider for William, who scored after a counter-attack at breakneck speed from Chelsea before Eden Hazard's late goals secured all three points.

City star Kevin De Bruyne missed an open goal from point-blank range with his side leading 1-0, with the midfielder's miss proving costly as Chelsea staged their smash and grab win.

The home side paid the price for some inept defending, particularly from Nicolas Otamendi, and have now failed to win any of their last four Premier League home games.

In an appalling finale, City had Aguero and Fernandinho sent off, as a mass brawl broke out following the former's late lunge on David Luiz.

Both sets of players became embroiled in an ugly melée, with ref Anthony Taylor dismissing both City men as the ugly scenes unfolded.

Aguero could now be looking at a four-game ban, having already been sent off once this season.

The City forward will be hit with a straight three-match ban, which could be extended because of his earlier dismissal against West Ham, a retrospective punishment following trial by TV.

Here are five things we learned from the lunchtime kick-off at the Etihad Stadium...

1. City need to strengthen in January

With skipper Vincent Kompamy plagued by injury, and Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones looking uncertain and vulnerable with every game, City have to buy a defender in January.

Stones was caught out defensively on a couple of occasions early on, while Otamendi was at fault for both of Chelsea's goals.

Guardiola must accept he has to buy in January if City are to have any chance of winning the title.

2. Luiz lucky to stay on

David Luiz knew exactly what he was doing when he body-checked Sergio Aguero as the City forward chased down Cesar Azpilicueta's under-hit back-pass just before the half-hour.

Somehow, Luiz got away with the blatant foul, which could have earned him a red card as he looked to be the last man.

Ref Anthony Taylor looked to go to his pocket for a card, before seemingly changing his mind.

Aguero was dismissed in stoppage time after exacting his revenge on the defender - revenge, perhaps, for their 2013 meeting?

3. Fabregas peripheral until key assist

With Nemanja Matic out with a muscle problem, Cesc Fabregas was handed his first appearance since Chelsea's 3-0 drubbing at Arsenal back in September.

It was a chance for Fabregas to show he can still perform when called upon, but he struggled defensively, although it was his his fine ball through to Costa that saw Chelsea equalise.

4. Cahill atones for own goal.

No player has scored more Premier League goals against Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois than team-mate Gary Cahill, who turned the ball into his own net here.

Cahill has netted twice against Courtois, along with nine other Premier League players.

But Cahill did atone for his blunder by clearing an Aguero shot off the line just after the break, which kept the game alive for Chelsea.

5. De Bruyne miss proves costly

Kevin De Bruyne has been arguably City's player of the season, with his goals and assists, but he produced a contender for miss of the season in the 56 minute.

After a wonderful counter-attack involving David Silva and Jesus Navas, all De Bruyne had to do was steer the ball in, but he managed to miss, clipping the bar.

That miss was compounded moments later when Costa levelled, followed by Willian's winner.

Player ratings

Man City: Bravo 5, Otamendi 4, Stones 5 (Ineanacho 78, 5), Kolarov 4, Fernandinho 4, Gundogan 6 (Toure 76, 5), Navas 6, Silva 6, De Bruyne 6, Sane 6 (Clichy 69, 5), Aguero 4

Chelsea: Courtois 7, Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 6, Cahill 6, Kante 6, Moses 6, Fabregas 7, Hazard 8 (Batshuayi 90), Alonso 6, Pedro 6 (Willian 50, 7), Costa 8 MOTM (Chalobah 85)

ENGLAND: Premier League - finished

	StandingsENGLAND: Premier League
	09:30	Finished	Manchester City	1 - 3	Chelsea
	12:00	Finished	Crystal Palace	3 - 0	Southampton
	12:00	Finished	Stoke City	2 - 0	Burnley
	12:00	Finished	Sunderland	2 - 1	Leicester
	12:00	Finished	Tottenham	5 - 0	Swansea
	12:00	Finished	West Brom	3 - 1	Watford
	14:30	Finished	West Ham	1 - 5	Arsenal