The Sunday News
BARCELONA moved six points clear at the top of La Liga as Luis Suarez scored twice in a dominant victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The visitors controlled El Clasico throughout, opening the scoring early on when Luis Suarez struck from 16 yards, before Neymar sidefooted home.
Andres Iniesta finished off a fine team move to add a third after the break.
Suarez’s cool finish wrapped up the win before Isco was sent off for a rash challenge to complete Real’s misery.
It was a first home defeat in 23 league games for Real, but an early blow to their hopes of challenging Barcelona for the title this season.
Rafael Benitez’s side are second with 24 points with Barcelona moving onto 30 points after 12 games.
Much of the focus in the lead-up to the game had been on the return of Lionel Messi.
The Argentina forward, Barcelona’s leading goalscorer, was named on the bench for the first time since suffering a knee ligament damage on 26 September.
However, in his absence Suarez and Neymar have been in phenomenal form, combing to score all 17 of Barcelona’s goals since Messi’s injury, and the pair were in deadly form once again on Saturday.
Suarez struck first with Sergi Roberto – starting in Messi’s position as part of a front three — the architect. He drove forward from middle of the pitch before slicing open the defence with a fine ball for Suarez to grab his 10th league goal of the season.
That was only the second goal Real had conceded all season, but their usually strong defence simply had no answer to Barcelona’s attacking prowess.
Iniesta’s smart ball set Neymar free, and the Brazilian made no mistake for the visitors second.
Following Iniesta’s drive high into the net, Barcelona boss Luis Enrique introduced Messi, who marked his return by playing a part in Suarez’s second.
“Men against boys,” was how co-commentator Chris Waddle described Barcelona’s performance against Real Madrid on BBC Radio 5 live.
After suffering their first defeat of the season against Seville in their previous fixture, Real Madrid fans will have expected an improved display in the first El Clasico of the campaign.
It never materialised. The hosts managed just one shot on target in the first half, while Cristiano Ronaldo was quiet for much of the game.
The Portuguese forward did manage to force Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into a smart save in the second half, but by then it was too late.
Isco’s late lunge on Neymar, which earned the midfielder a red card, summed up their frustrations.
“I’ve been really disappointed by Real Madrid,” added Waddle. “There are too many egos. Barcelona are a team, they work as a unit. Real don’t.” — BBC Sport
