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Luis Suarez grabbed a brace in Barcelonas 4-0 win over Real MadridAs the world tuned in for El Clasico on Saturday night, few would have expected the final result after the starting XIs were announced. Barcelona produced a scintillating display of football to outclass Real Madrid and win 4-0 at the Bernabeu.Two goals from Luis Suarez and a goal apiece from Neymar and Andres Iniesta ensured the Catalan club would go home with a six-point lead over their arch rivals in La Liga. We look at some of the best moments from what is arguably the biggest game in club football.
#1 Bernabeu\'s moving tribute to Paris terror attack victims
All across Europe, tributes and condolences have been pouring in for the victims of the terror attacks in France last week that left 130 people dead and hundreds more injuerd. The Stade de France was also a target with explosions outside the arena even heard on live television.
While the Premier League saw the French national anthem La Marseillaise being played before kickoff, the Santiago Bernabeu saw the players and managers line up near the centre circle and show their solidarity to their neighbours across the border.
The minute’s silence was accompanied by the unfurling of an enormous French flag behind the players – one that easily spanned two tiers.
#2 Andres Iniesta gets a standing ovation from the Bernabeu
In what was a master-class performance from Barcelona, it was Andres Iniesta pulling the strings for the Catalan club. A sublime assist from the Spaniard saw Neymar score the second goal in the first half before the 31-year-old stamped his authority on the game with a goal in the second half.
The goal itself was an absolute scorcher! A one-two with Neymar saw the Brazilian backheel the ball and leave it for an unmarked Iniesta to blast it into the top corner with the Real Madrid defence completely bamboozled by Neymar’s movement.
And as Luis Enrique substituted him for Munir El Haddadi in the 77th minute, most of the Bernabeu crowd were on their feet applauding the Barcelona captain’s performance. Not since Ronaldinho a decade ago has a Barcelona player received such respect from the Real Madrid faithful on home turf.
“I want to thank the fans.” – Andres Iniesta
“Ovation Iniesta? He's world heritage. I understand why Madrid fans applauded him.” – Luis Enrique
#3 Lionel Messi returns, but was he really needed?
While the MSN trio had become a duo minus Lionel Messi, the other two South Americans – Neymar and Luis Suarez – ensured the Argentine forward’s services weren’t required until Barcelona were leading 3-0. Suarez had got the ball rolling as early as the 11th minute after a beautiful move carved open the Real Madrid defence, with Sergi Roberto supplying the Uruguayan with a neat pass to finish.
Neymar then latched on to Iniesta’s through ball to beat Keylor Navas to make it 2-0 before the half before Iniesta converted seven minutes into the second half to make it 3-0. As if things weren’t bad enough for Madrid, Luis Enrique then brought on Messi, who he said was excited to make a comeback ahead of the Clasico.
While Messi didn’t get on the scoresheet, he did look lively on the pitch after coming on and taking the captain’s armband. It should only be a matter of time before he is back to his best. But he really wasn’t needed, was he?
Neymar and Suarez have scored 20 of the last 21 league goals Barcelona have scored. With Messi back, the trio is complete as they defend their La Liga crown.
However, it was far from the perfect night for Barcelona. They did end up losing Javier Mascherano to an injury in the first half. The Argentine defender hobbled off the pitch in the 27th minute with Jeremy Mathieu taking his place.
#4 How bad were Real Madrid\'s attacking trio?
If the MSN trio were reunited under superb circumstances, it wasn’t a happy reunion for BBC. Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure throughout the game, Gareth Bale hardly had a chance to affect the outcome while Karim Benzema looked completely lost on his return to the squad.
While Ronaldo did have a chance towards the end of the game when Bale tried to assist him, his shot was blocked by Claudio Bravo. The Portuguese forward was looking for fouls and help from the referees throughout the game but the officials were having none of it as Barcelona shut him down.
On the other hand, Benzema clearly looked off the pace and barely had a chance on goal. His heat map itself makes interesting reading – the area of the pitch where he spent the most amount of time was the centre circle, whenever Real Madrid had to kick off!
#5 Gerard Pique gets sweet revenge
As soon as the match kicked off, one thing was certain. Gerard Pique would be at the receiving end of the loudest boos and jeers from the Bernabeu crowd. It did not come as a surprise considering Pique’s relationship with the fans and his previous quotes on how much he hated their arch rivals.
But after Barcelona made it 4-0, it was Pique who was looking for the symbolic fifth goal. On a couple of attacks, the defender was the furthest man forward, desperate to get a goal and heap more misery on Real Madrid and their fans.
It even reached a point where Pique was seen cursing loudly after Munir El Haddadi missed the target from a clear goalscoring opportunity after Neymar laid it on a plate in the box. Pique, who was a few feet away, was furious with the off-target shot and screamed in frustration in spite of the 4-goal lead.
Ultimately, he did forgive El Haddadi in the dressing room, even tweeting an image with the young forward.
#6 Real Madrid starting XI has no academy player
For the first time in over five decades, Real Madrid started a Clasico without a single academy player in the starting XI. The last time no academy player started a Clasico was December 1963!
Florentino Perez has been adamant on his Galactico policy and spent fortunes in bringing in stars from around Europe and South America. While there were academy players on the bench, Benitez opted to start the crunch game by choosing from the array of stars available to him – a move that backfired horribly.
#7 Rafa Benitez and Florenitno Perez under fire
Two consecutive losses, first against Sevilla and now Barcelona, has seen Rafa Benitez’s stock at the Bernabeu drop. Although Real Madrid were undefeated before these two losses this month, Benitez’s side hasn’t exactly lit up the league like Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Thousands of fans booed the home team’s performance – both at half-time and again at full-time. The Bernabeu faithful are not exactly known to be a patient lot but conceding 4 goals at home to the ‘enemy’ without putting up a decent fight is downright unforgivable.
Benitez did make changes to try and put some fight into Madrid’s attack, but it was too late to affect the outcome. Isco’s red card didn’t help matter either.
While Benitez may be sacked if things don’t improve, the crowd directed their ire at club president Florentino Perez. Chants of “Florentino resign!” rang around the Bernabeu directed at the Presidential Box.
White handkerchiefs were being waved by Madrid fans as they saw their team get decimated by Barcelona on home soil. White placards which were used to remember the Paris attack victims were now being waved in protest at what they were witnessing on the pitch.
#8 Clean sheet in an El Clasico after ages
It’s not often that an El Clasico sees a goalkeeper keep a clean sheet. In fact, the last Clasico to see a clean sheet was when 10-man Real Madrid lost 2-0 to a Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona in the 2010/11 Champions League semi-final.
Barcelona goalkeeper made a string of crucial saves to deny Madrid any chance of getting back into the game. In all, he made 7 saves compared to Navas’s 2 in the entire game. The biggest saves he made were when he denied Ronaldo on the counter-attack and stopped a low shot from James Rodriguez.
