It
was not just the composure for the first, or the ingenuity shown for the
second, nor the audacious third.
No, it was so much more.Leading from the front,
bullying arguably one of the finest defenders around in Sergio Ramos, the
ferocious pressing, chasing seemingly lost causes, that movement on and off the
ball. It was assuming the mantle in the absence of Lionel Messi. It was the
golden performance from Luis Suarez. Scorers, they say, are worth their weight
in gold. In the 177th El-Classico meeting between Barcelona and Madrid, Suarez
put on a classy display. Nine goals in 11 appearances against Real Madrid,
including his hat-trick here - the 25th in El Classico history - since
his move to Spain, it is easy to forget he is the wrong side of thirty. The mark
of great players; they seem to pause time. Further goals from Philippe Coutinho
and Arturo Vidal for Barcelona ensured a white-washing for the men in white. This
was the first meeting between both sides since 2009 not to feature either
Christiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi – the former moving to Juventus over the
summer and the latter through injury– nonetheless the stakes were very high.
Madrid were four points behind their hosts after nine games, on the back of a
four game winless run in La Liga. For Barcelona, there were questions, most
notably how would they cope without Lionel Messi? The answer was emphatic. A
5-1 win.
Luis Suarez was in red hot form
for Barcelona in their 5-1 demolition of Real Madrid on Sunday
Barcelona
went with a front three of Rafinha, Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho with Ivan
Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Arthur Melo in midfield. The long term absence of
Samuel Umititi meant Clement Lenglet partnered Gerard Pique in defence with
Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba filling in at right and left-back respectively,
and Marc Andre Ter-Stegen manning the posts. Madrid coach, Julen Lopetegui
fielded Karim Benzema, Isco, and Gareth Bale in attack and a midfield trident
of Modric, Casemiro, and Toni Kroos. In defence, Nacho Fernandes, Raphael
Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo formed the back four, with Thibaut Courtois in
goal. In a fast opening to the game, Madrid signaled their attacking ambition
early on as Karim Benzema was flagged offside in the second minute. The
Frenchman blasted over the bar six minutes later, after Gareth Bale went on his
bike, down the left and picked out his teammate with a brilliant cut-back. But
Barcelona looked dangerous going forward, especially down the left hand channel
with Jordi Alba and Philippe Coutinho finding so much joy. It was little
surprise when the opening goal came down that route. And what a fantastic team
goal it was. Ivan Rakitic released Alba with a superb floated ball in behind
Madrid's right, the Spanish left back continued his run into the area, and
brilliantly picked out Coutinho who made no mistake with a composed first-time
left footed finish.Suarez's intelligent run to the near post drawing defenders
away and giving Coutinho time to pick his spot.
Madrid
resorted to long range efforts to claw their way back into the game, but
efforts from Gareth Bale and Marcelo failed to trouble Marc Andre Ter-Stegen in
goal for Barcelona. The Galacticos were indebted to Thibaut Courtois' super
save on 19 minutes after Nacho failed to control Ramos' heavy pass. The goal-keeper
dived high to his left to prevent a certain goal. But with Madrid all over the
place at the back, a second goal duly arrived. Referee Jose Maria Sanchez
Martinez, after consulting with the VAR, deemed Raphael Varane's clumsy
tackle on Suarez a penalty – rightly so – Up stepped Luis Suarez, with pressure
on his shoulders, to hammer home the second and his first of the game. It was
the least Barcelona deserved and Madrid were lucky to be only two goals down at
the break. Sergio Busquets slalomed through midfield and slotted in Alba on 37
minutes. The pull back from the Spaniard just evaded a red and blue shirt.
Gerard Pique could not force an effort in, Rafinha curled over, as Madrid were
on the ropes. They bounced back from the canvas in the second period - albeit
for a short time - Marcelo pulled one back five minutes after the restart. Isco
advanced down the right channel , and his pull back deflected into Marcelo’s
path with the Brazilian making no mistake in the finish. Suddenly the game
sprang into life. Madrid sensed blood and went for the kill. Benzema and Bale
combined but Pique was there to block the Welshman's effort. Ramos sent a
header over from few yards when he really should have done better from a
sumptuous Marcelo cross. Luka Modric hit the post after Barçelona lost
possession on the edge of their box. His low strike smacking off the base of
the post. Suarez served a reminder of his instincts as his goal bound effort
came back off the post after Brazilian Arthur spotted the run of Sergi Roberto,
and picked him out with a delicious ball to the far post. Roberto’s cross was
slightly behind Suarez however, who could only steer the ball against the post.
The recent woes in front of goal of Lopetegui's side, were laid bare as Karim Bemzema headed over from
pointblank range when it seemed easier to score. The fans must certainly be
thinking a certain Ronaldo might have helped himself to some goals here. It was
not that the chances did not come. Converting them however, proved too difficult
for Los Blancos. And they were made to pay for that profligacy as Suarez showed
how it is done. With Madrid going all out Barcelona countered through
substitute Ousmane Dembele. He surged through midfield and Madrid were in
trouble. A pass out wide to Sergi Roberto who lifted a cross into the box.
Suarez still had plenty to do but showed tremendous precision with a header
into the corner far beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois. Clinical and lethal.
Suarez’s
brilliantly taken second goal left Real Madrid facing a huge mountain to climb
Out of reach. Suarez lobbed Courtois
in the Real Madrid goal to complete his hat-trick
The
performance of Madrid's front men paled in comparison to the resplendent
display of Suarez. His third and Barcelona’s fourth put the game beyond reach
for Madrid. A mistake by Sergio Ramos saw Roberto feed Suarez who raced through
and advanced down on Courtois. Sizing up the goalkeeper, he nonchalantly
chipped the ball over the tall Belgian goalie and wheeled away confidently as
the ball rolled over the line. That's the hallmark of potent forwards. They
make even the best of goalkeepers look anything but. Real Madrid were down and
out. The Camp Nou rose in full voice and cheered on, as the players clad in
white looked to the floor in hopelessness. Kudos to Lopetegui who switched to a
back three in the second half, momentarily swinging the game in Madrid’s
favour, but it was short-lived. Barcelona's fifth owed to the combination of
two substitutes After picking up Arthur Melo's cute pass wide left, Ousmane
Dembele beared down on Nacho. His dancing feet took him past the Madrid
defender and he hung a cross to the middle where Arturo Vidal rose unchallenged
to nod home. On the Madrid bench, coach Julen Lopetegui looked crestfallen. His
talented side had been played off the park.
The
look that says it all. Benzema and Isco struggled to influence proceedings as
Barcelona ran riot.
Bale
was quiet by his standards, Isco was off colour, Benzema epitomized his sides
wasteful finishing, the midfield failed to offer protection and the defence was
at sixes and sevens. Barcelona made Julen learn the hard way. With a president
in Florentino Perez who is never shy of pressing the sack button in times of
slumps –and this is turning into a crisis– it seems the only way out is showing
the coach the door. Seven points behind leaders Barcelona already, anyone coming
in, if there is, will have one hell of a job on his hands in steadying the ship.
A task made more difficult after the summer departure of Christiano Ronaldo and
the lack of similar replacement –quality wise– brought in. But for Barcelona,
this was an efficient team performance even in the absence of Messi, where many
individuals rose up to the occasion. None more so than the regal Luis Suarez.
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