OH NO Ronaldo!
Suarez and Neymar rock Real in the Clasico
WHEN Andres Iniesta’s screamer hit the back of Keylor Navas’ net after 53 minutes, a beleaguered Rafa Benitez could be seen scribbling something down in his note pad — 3-0 presumably.
Real Madrid had been taken apart by Barcelona with Luis Suarez, Neymar and Iniesta all scoring. Leo Messi had not even needed to come off the bench, such was their superiority.
He finally took to the field after 57 minutes and set up Suarez for the fourth goal. Real Madrid were then reduced to 10 men after Isco hacked wildly at Neymar.
This was a humbling first Clasico for Benitez although it was the president Florentino Perez who supporters vented their anger against calling for him to resign both at half time and throughout the second period.
Suarez set the tone with his pressing of Real Madrid’s unprotected defence and his first-time finish broke the deadlock. Neymar got the second from an assist from Iniesta who was unplayable for large parts, and fittingly he got the third.
Real had set themselves up to hurt Barcelona but the gap left between their defence and midfield was brutally exposed by a side who are now six points clear at the top.
Pre-match Luis Suarez had promised he wouldn’t target Sergio Ramos’ injured shoulder, after just two minutes it was Suarez who was down in agony after Ramos had caught him on the shoulder.
Neymar went crunching into Danilo who was a surprise pick at right-back for Real Madrid ahead of Dani Carvajal. The Brazilian had a torrid time in Real Madrid’s last game and would be up against his close pal Neymar who had the first chance shoot over from the edge of the area. Benitez’ team selection had shocked many with no sign of his favourite defensive midfielder Casemiro and Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez both starting.
They combined brilliantly with Ronaldo for Real’s first chance. The Frenchman’s cushioned lay-off went to Rodriguez who played in Ronaldo and he nudged it one way past Jordi Alba and ran the other only for his cross to be pushed away by Bravo.
On 11 minutes came the goal. Sergi Busquets was allowed to run at the heart of Real Madrid’s defence. He left Luka Modric behind and when Sergio Ramos came out to meet Sergi Roberto he left Suarez unmarked. The Uruguayan gratefully accepted the gift and with the outside of his right foot bent a shot past Navas and into the far corner.
Real were handed a boost when Javier Mascherano hobbled off just before the half hour. The Argentine had been sporting a black eye before the action started, he then took a blow to the groin. He went down holding that area and Jeremy Mathieu came on to replace him.
Real’s next chance came as they raced away from defending a corner – when Ronaldo was blocked by Alves he elbowed the defender’s head. The full-back went down and stayed down hoping not to see the card but when he finally got to his feet it was waiting for him. Ronaldo escaped punishment.
Alves was going down at every contact although in fairness to him some of the contact was brutal and Ramos’ follow-through put him on the turf again.
Barcelona doubled their lead after Suarez chased back and unsettled Modric. Iniesta scooped the ball away from the Croatian and played in Neymar who beat Navas at his near-post.
As the Real Madrid players went off at half-time the Bernabeu whistle as one and most supporters sang ‘Florentino [Perez] resign’. There was more misery for Madrid when Rakitic played forward to Neymar.
He flicked the ball into Iniesta’s path and the captain met it sweetly to send it into the top corner. That was the cue for more whistles of discontent from the home fans and for Leo Messi to strip to come on. Real Madrid took off Rodriguez and brought on Isco and the Argentine came on for Barça.
Madrid’s forwards had been completely over-shadowed by their Barça counterparts and Suarez had not finished yet, dinking in the fourth after a mazy run from Messi.