Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta shine as Luis Enrique's side run riot to win El Clasico
- Barcelona thrashed rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to go six points clear at the top of La Liga
- Luis Suarez neatly opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a finish using the outside of his foot
- Neymar doubled the advantage from Andres Iniesta's clever pass and his shot squeezed past Keylor Navas
- The impressive Iniesta made it three in the second half with a thumping finish into the top corner
- Suarez then found himself through on goal and brilliantly lifted the ball over Navas
- Things went from bad to worse for Real when playmaker Isco was sent off for a foul on Neymar
When Andres Iniesta’s screamer hit the back of Keylor Navas net on 53 minutes a beleaguered Rafa Benitez could be seen scribbling something down in his note pad – ‘3-0’ presumably.
Real Madrid had been taken apart by Barcleona with Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta all scoring. Lionel Messi had not even needed to come off the bench such was their superiority.
He finally took to the field after 57 minutes and set-up Luis Suarez for the fourth goal. Real Madrid were then reduced to ten men as Isco hacked wildly at Neymar – many Madrid supporters made for the exits as soon as the card was shown.
Luis Suarez (left) fires home the opener for Barcelona as they shocked arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu
The former Liverpool striker wheels away in celebration as the Catalonian side took control early on
Brazilian superstar Neymar celebrates after doubling the lead from Andres Iniesta's brilliant through ball
The Spanish maestro then found the net himself with a thumping finish from the edge of the Real box
This was a humbling first El Clasico for Benitez although it was the president Florentino Perez who supporters vented their anger against calling for him to resign both at half time and throughout the second period.
Benitez had picked the most attacking team possible but it was Barcelona who had done almost all of the quality attacking as they coasted to first half lead.
Suarez set the tone with his pressing of Real’s unprotected defence and his first time finish broke the deadlock. Neymar got the second from an assist from Iniesta who was unplayable for large parts, and fittingly he got the third.
Real had set themselves up to hurt Barcelona but the gap left between their defence and midfield was brutally exposed by a side who are now six points clear at the top.
Pre-match Suarez had promised he wouldn’t target Sergio Ramos’ injured shoulder, after just two minutes it was Suarez who was down in agony after Ramos had caught him on the shoulder.
Neymar went cruching into Danillo, who was a surprise pick at right-back for Real Madrid ahead of Dani Carvajal. The Brazilian had a torrid time in Real Madrid’s last game and would be up against his close pal Neymar who had the first chance shoot over from the edge of the area.
Iniesta celebrates his goal as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table
Suarez delightfully lifts the ball over Navas to make it four as Barca ran riot in Madrid
Isco was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on Neymar and the home fans began to make their exit
Benitez’s team selection had shocked many with no sign of his favourite defensive midfielder Casemiro and Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez both starting. They combined brilliantly with Ronaldo for Real’s first chance.
The Frenchman’s cushioned lay-off went to Rodriguez who played in Ronaldo and he nudged it one way past Jordi Alba and ran the other only for his cross to be pushed away by Bravo.
On 11 minutes came the goal. Sergio Busquets played the ball forward to Sergi Roberto and he was allowed to run at the heart of Real Madrid’s defence. He left Modric behind and when Ramos came out to meet Roberto he left Suarez unmarked. The Uruguayan gratefully accepted the gift and with the outside of his right foot bent a shot past Navas and into the far corner.
Having made the first goal Roberto should have scored the second. Iniesta combined on the edge of the box and the midfielder found himself in space but sent the shot well over Navas’ bar.
Real were struggling but they were handed a boost when Javier Mascherano hobbled off just before the half hour. The Argentine had been sporting a black eye before the action started, he then took a blow to the groin. He went down holding that area and Jeremy Mathieu came on to replace him.
Real’s next chance was racing away from defending a corner – it Ronaldo was doing the galloping and when he was blocked by Alves he elbowed the defender’s head. The full-back went down and stayed down hoping not to see the card but when he finally got to his feet it was waiting for him. Ronaldo escaped punishment.
Alves was going down at every contact although in fairness to him some of the contact was brutal and Ramos’ follow through put him on the turf again. Barca were looking less sure of themselves at the back with Mathieu on the field and Benzema missed a chance at the back post before Claudio Bravo dropped the ball and Iniesta had to scramble the ball away.
It was a let off for Barcelona who immediately doubled their lead. Suarez was chasing back and he unsettled Modric. Iniesta who had run the first half for the visitors scooped the ball away from the Croatian and played in Neymar who beat Navas at his near-post.
Cristiano Ronaldo throws his hand up in frustration after missing a golden opportunity to pull one back
Gareth Bale appeals for a foul after being brought down which summed up a disappointing night for Real
Barca's players walk over to the away fans at the end of the game as they thrashed their arch-rivals
As the Real players went off at half-time the Bernabeu whistle as one and most supporters sang ‘Florentino [Perez] resign’. The players were even jeered back on to the pitch – it was hardly the stuff to lift Real Madrid but they had the first chance of the second half when Bale fed James Rodriguez and he fizzed a low shot that Claudio Bravo got down well to his right to save.
There was more misery for Madrid to come however when Rakitic played the ball forward to Neymar. He flicked the ball into Iniesta’s path and the captain met it sweetly past Navas and into the top corner. That was the cue for more whistles of discontent from the home fans and of Messi to strip to come on. Real Madrid took off Rodriguez and and brought on Isco and the Argentine came on for Barca.
Bale raced away and fed Ronaldo but Bravo saved brilliantly from the Portuguese who also hit the bar from an offside position. Madrid’s forwards had been completely over-shadowed by their Barca counerparts and Suarez had not finished yet dinking in the fourth after a mazy run from Messi.
Ronaldo looks dejected at the final whistle as his side were outclassed from start to finish at the Bernabeu
Lionel Messi came off the bench in the second half and provided the assist for Suarez's second goal
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3328608/Real-Madrid-0-4-Barcelona-Luis-Suarez-Neymar-Andres-Iniesta-shine-Luis-Enrique-s-run-riot-win-El-Clasico.html#ixzz3s9wSme7q
