Suarez scores hat-trick as Barcelona embarrass Real Madrid
Luis Suarez ensured that Lionel Messi’s broken arm would not come to haunt Barcelona as he netted three times in a 5-1 thrashing of Real Madrid in the season’s first El Clasico encounter.
Philippe Coutinho got Barcelona off to the perfect start after eight minutes before Suarez double the lead from the penalty spot in the first half. Marcelo briefly gave the away side some hope before a sublime header and a chipped effort rounded off Suarez’s afternoon. Arturo Vidal put gloss on the final score as Barcelona ran riot in the final minutes.
It is a result that could spell the end for Julen Lopetegui and his selections from the off will be called into question. Nacho started at right back and was given a torrid time by Jordi Alba in the first half, while Raphael Varane did not fare much better on his return to the side.
Barcelona, for their part, went with an unchanged side from the one which beat Inter Milan in the Champions League midweek. Arthur and Coutinho accompanied Suarez at the head of the attack.
And it was Coutinho who opened up the scoring in simple fashion early in the game. Jordi Alba got the wrong side of the defence and pulled the ball back to the Brazilian who was left with a tap-in at the back post. It was two inside half an hour, and there was an El Clasico first.
Varane clattered into the back of Suarez, although the referee was not convinced at the time. VAR was brought in and having had a second look, the penalty was awarded. Suarez dusted himself off and sent an effort beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois.
It did not get much better for Real from there. They looked sloppy throughout the first half, gifting the ball to their opponents all too regularly and they went in at the break lucky to be only two down.
After half-time, they were a different beast. Varane was hooked and Lucaz Vazquez on in his place gave ‘Los Blancos’ the attacking impetus they had been missing. Within five minutes Marcelo had his goal.
The left added to his growing tally this season after chesting down a ball in the box and stabbing an effort home. It is a sign of Real’s struggles in front of goal that he is their top scorer on the season, having scored for his third game in a row.
What followed was a spell of pressure from the European champions that looked sure to result in the equalising goal. Modric crashed an effort off the post as wave after wave of attack came.
Unfortunately for them, Barça had other ideas. A quick break saw the ball fall to Sergi Roberto, and he clipped a ball into the box from close range that Suarez expertly directed past the goalkeeper. With 20 minutes to go Real had it all to do and their heads dropped.
The defence parted time and time again and the ‘Blaugrana’ took full advantage. Suarez completed his hat-trick with a dink over Courtois before Vidal headed home to rub salt in the wounds.
On the basis of the first half, you could not claim the scoreline flattered the home side, but Real would have been good value for a point in the second. What will worry the bosses is the speed with which the players let the game go and with Lopetegui already under pressure, this will likely be the final straw.