Suarez, Neymar star as Barca rout Madrid 4-0

Suarez, Neymar star as Barca rout Madrid 4-0

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 08:42 PM IST
article-image
TOPSHOTS Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 21, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ JAVIER SORIANO |

Madrid : Luis Suarez and Neymar continued their sensational goal-scoring form as Barcelona moved six points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with a 4-0 thrashing of their bitter rivals at the Bernabeu. Barca even had the luxury of leaving Lionel Messi on the bench, but the Argentine did make his return from a two-month injury layoff half an hour from time and played a part in Suarez’s second and Barca’s fourth goal on Saturday night.Suarez got Barca off to the perfect start after just 10 minutes and Neymar deservedly doubled the visitors’ advantage just before half-time.  At that point Neymar and Suarez had scored every one of Barca’s last 19 La Liga goals, but Andres Iniesta ended that run in style when he blasted a third into the top corner.

And Messi, Neymar and Suarez all combined for the latter to score a fourth before Isco sealed an embarrassing defeat for Madrid by getting sent-off late on. Despite just two defeats in 16 games in charge, Madrid boss Rafael Benitez’s job is now in doubt as the home fans turned on club president Florentino Perez towards the end of the game.

The build-up to the match had been dominated by security fears after last week’s series of deadly attacks in Paris which killed 130 people. A minute’s silence was held to the tune of the French national anthem La Marseillaise and a large French flag was unfurled by the Madrid fans before kick-off in honour of the victims before kick-off. However, the sombre atmosphere quickly turned hostile as the home fans saw their side completely outplayed by Barca. Sergi Roberto was rewarded for his great form of late with a start in the position normally occupied by Messi and he repaid Luis Enrique’s faith with a big role in a fine opening goal. The Spaniard collected Sergio Busquets’s pass and drove at the Madrid defence before threading a pass through for Suarez who coolly slotted home with the outside of his right foot.

Karim Benzema started for Madrid for the first time since he was charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act in his native France in a case involving a sex tape featuring French international teammate Mathieu Valbuena. And after six weeks out, Benzema’s rustiness showed as he failed to make a clean contact when presented with a great chance from Jeremy Mathieu’s slip. Barca’s dominance in possession was rewarded with a second before half-time when Iniesta’s through ball was perfectly timed for Neymar and his effort squeezed under Keylor Navas.

The hosts started the second period slightly better as James Rodriguez forced Claudio Bravo into a brilliant save low to his right. But any hope of a comeback was emphatically ended by a brilliant strike by Iniesta as he latched onto Neymar’s backheel eight minutes after the break. Suarez fired into the side-netting in acres of space moments later as Barca threatened a repeat of their famous 5-0 mauling of Jose Mourinho’s Madrid five years ago. To add to Madrid’s woes, Enrique then introduced Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo was largely anonymous, but he had the chance to briefly restore some pride for Real only to see Bravo produce another fine save. Messi got in on the act when his pass was flicked-on by Neymar and Suarez took his time before chipping over a helpless Navas. And Madrid’s misery was complete when Isco was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Neymar five minutes from time.

RECENT STORIES

Viral Video: Spectator Invades The Pitch To Touch MS Dhoni's Feet During GT vs CSK IPL 2024 Clash In...

Viral Video: Spectator Invades The Pitch To Touch MS Dhoni's Feet During GT vs CSK IPL 2024 Clash In...

Video: Virat Kohli Meets PBKS Players' Family Members After RCB's 60-Run Win In IPL 2024 Clash In...

Video: Virat Kohli Meets PBKS Players' Family Members After RCB's 60-Run Win In IPL 2024 Clash In...

IPL 2024: GT Skipper Shubman Gill Brings Up 4th Century As GT Eye Solid Total vs CSK

IPL 2024: GT Skipper Shubman Gill Brings Up 4th Century As GT Eye Solid Total vs CSK

IPL 2024: Sai Sudharsan Shatters Sachin Tendulkar's Record During GT vs CSK Clash In Ahmedabad

IPL 2024: Sai Sudharsan Shatters Sachin Tendulkar's Record During GT vs CSK Clash In Ahmedabad

GT vs CSK, IPL 2024 Match 59: Gill, Sudharsan, Mohit Shine As Gujarat Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With...

GT vs CSK, IPL 2024 Match 59: Gill, Sudharsan, Mohit Shine As Gujarat Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With...