Barcelona coach Luis Enrique savoured a “glorious” El Clasico victory as he c laimed his side’s performance in their 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu would “go down in history”.
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Messi had been on the sidelines for two months with a ligament injury in his knee, but is back for selection after working out fully during the global break.
Luis Suarez has insisted that Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Clasico on Saturday “was a cluster of many coincidences”. He immediately got into the thick of things as he was substituted on in the second half.
Suarez’s cool finish wrapped up the win before Isco was sent off for a rash challenge to complete Real’s misery.
Before the kick-off, Real Madrid and Barcelona players observed a minute of silence for the victims killed in the Paris attacks on November 13. Ronaldo forced Barca keeper Claudio Bravo to make a few big saves, but was largely non-existent and never posed a huge threat, especially once Barcelona went up by a few goals.
Barcelona now lead the way from their great rivals with Real’s surprise 3-2 loss to Sevilla last time out putting them three points behind. We’ve paid for our mistakes. It was Barca who struck first in the seventh minute, Jordi Alba did well to play into the Suarez and the Uruguayan’s flick fell brilliantly into the path of Neymar but his effort was blazed over the crossbar.
It’s safe to say most thought this match would be close, especially with Barcelona’s best player, Messi, starting the match on the bench.
Barcelona started the game brilliantly.
Suarez opened the scoring in the 11th after receiving a ideal pass by Sergi Roberto behind the defenders.
A third goal was almost added just at the stroke of half-time when Neymar sprinted past Danilo making his way into the Madrid penalty area and making a low pass to an onrushing Suarez whose shot was cleared off the goal-line by Marcelo.
Only a fine diving save from Navas prevented Neymar’s free-kick from making it two on 24 minutes before Roberto somehow missed target from eight yards shortly after. The Brazilian scored once and Suarez added a double.
Madrid came pressuring in the second half and had good early chances with Marcelo and James Rodriguez.
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Coach Luis Enrique, who played for both Real and Barca and won the treble with the Catalan side in his first season in charge in 2014-15, was euphoric.
