Barcelona dish out a thrashing
BARCELONA dealt a stinging blow to Real Madrid’s title hopes when Luis Suarez and Neymar continued their scintillating form to fire the champions to a stunning 4-0 victory in the La Liga ‘Clasico’ last night.
Suarez struck twice, either side of goals from Neymar and Andres Iniesta as Barca humiliated their arch-rivals with an imperious performance at the Bernabeu to surge six points clear at the top after 12 matches – and ratchet up the pressure on under-fire Real coach Rafa Benitez.
“This victory is glorious, especially in the way it came about,” said a delighted Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique.
His thoughts were echoed by his skipper, Andres Iniesta: “We wanted to be ourselves and we have done that. We neutralised Madrid.”
Barca’s dominance, which prompted angry Real fans to roundly whistle their own team and chant for president Florentino Perez to step down, was all the more remarkable considering coach Enrique had started with a fit-again Lionel Messi on the bench.
The Argentina captain, who has been out for nearly two months with a knee injury, came on for Ivan Rakitic before the hour and sent Suarez clear to score a fourth for the European champions.
A dominant Barca could easily have added to their tally in the closing stages and Real’s humiliation was complete when substitute Isco was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge at Neymar six minutes from time.
Chasing a sixth La Liga title in eight years, Barca have 30 points, with Real, who lost 3-2 at Sevilla in their previous outing, on 24.
“Barcelona are the best side in the world at the moment,” said former England star and manager Chris Waddle. “They have ability in abundance. I don’t think there is a better team.”
Atletico Madrid can climb back to within four points of Barca and leapfrog Real into second with a win at promoted Real Betis today.