El Clasico: 3 reasons why Barcelona beat Real Madrid

Barcelona inflicted a humiliating 5-1 defeat on Real Madrid on Sunday evening to go top of the league table. The resounding victory at the Camp Nou means the Catalans have 21 points and are LaLiga leaders after 10 games while their arch-rivals are reeling in ninth place with 7 points separating them.

The hosts have scored 5 goals against Los Blancos thrice before in the league, the most recent of those coming against Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side in 2010/11 (FT 5-0).

This is undoubtedly one of Barca’s biggest wins in the Clasico and it was fuelled by a Luiz Suarez hattrick sandwiched between goals from Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal.

The absence of Leo Messi – who is out for 3 weeks due to a broken arm – did not hinder the home side but the same could not be said of a Ronaldo-less Madrid. The Portuguese’s departure to Juventus has seen Real struggle for goals, they have scored 14 times in the league against Barca’s 28 from the same number of fixtures.

The hosts led 2-0 at the break and although Marcelo scored early in the second half to spark hopes of a potential revival, Barcelona piled more misery on Julen Lopetegui and co. by scoring three more goals to seal the fixture.

We list the three key factors that enabled the hosts’ rout of Real Madrid.

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#3. A perfect first half

Barcelona had a head start with a perfect first half performance

Barca had the initial momentum and retained possession effectively from the time the whistle sounded. Philippe Coutinho gave the hosts a dream start by scoring in the 11th minute.

Jordi Alba had raced along the left flank during the counterattack and cut the ball back to the Brazilian whose arrival in the box was timed to perfection. Coutinho flicked the ball into the net with his left foot to give them a crucial lead. Suarez then won a penalty off Raphael Varane and scored to double the lead on the half-hour mark.

Valverde’s side dominated possession, rotated the ball well and launched wave after wave of attack while also simultaneously stifling any threat from the opponents. Arthur, Busquets and Rakitic seldom ceded control in midfield and their full-backs were always a ready outlet to take the ball forward.

Real barely had a sniff of goal aside of one good chance in the second minute where Benzema was flagged offside (albeit incorrectly). Their backline was shaky with Varane especially poor, and he made way for Lucas Vasquez at the break.

That the hosts led only by two goals heading into half-time was not a testament to their opponents’ ability. Only a couple of fine saves by Thibaut Courtois and their profligacy with respect to finishing had denied the Blaugranas being out of sight by then.

2. Luiz Suarez hat-trick

Suarez got his first El Clasico hat-trick

The Uruguayan has come in for criticism amidst some tepid performances and lack of goals. He could not have chosen a better day or occasion to announce his return to form.

Suarez was everywhere – making runs into the box, drawing away defenders (who were perplexed with his constant movements), tracking back to defend and most importantly, scoring goals.

His first of the evening was a penalty; Varane’s mistimed tackle brought him down in the box and Suarez made no mistake from six yards.

Late in the second half, he combined with Sergi Roberto twice in quick succession and scored both times. One was a superbly volleyed header from an equally well-placed cross from the Barca fullback. For his hattrick goal, he latched on to a brilliant through-ball from Roberto and sent the ball packing into the net.

Suarez could have scored at least a couple more goals were he not denied by the post and Courtois. However, having masterminded his side’s win and also claimed the match-ball with a complete performance, the striker will have little reason to complain.

1. An all-round team performance

Everyone in the Barcelona team did their jobs well

No Messi? No problem. Step up everyone else!

Luis Suarez scored a hattrick and put in a memorable performance alongside Philippe Coutinho in the final third, ably assisted by a rock-solid midfield as well as impressive fullbacks.

Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto turned creators and also aided the midfield trio to shield their goal effectively.

The defence looked slightly suspect early in the second half where Los Blancos threatened a bit, following a change in formation and the introduction of Vasquez for Varane.

It was this change - to 3 at the back - that liberated Marcelo to get further up the pitch and yielded the visitors’ only goal. However, the initiative was well and truly wrested back in the centre of the pitch.

Arthur has been a find in the middle of the park and alongside him, Busquets, Rafinha and Rakitic linked up well with the defence as well as frontline to function as a well-oiled unit.

Marc Andre Ter Stegen had little of note to do in the first half and could not have stopped Marcelo’s belter from close range which was also slightly deflected in.

Every Barca player put in a performance worthy of their shirt in Messi’s absence as the Argentine watched on with pride and pleasure from the stands.