Luis Suarez hit a hat-trick as Julen Lopetegui's dismal Real Madrid reign appeared to near its end in a 5-1 Clasico humiliation at the hands of Barcelona.
2018/2019 La Liga
5-1
Match Events
8' CHANCE! Benzema's shot over the bar
Bale runs down the left flank and he cuts the ball back into the middle for Benzema. The Frenchman takes the strike on the half-volley, only to blast his effort over the bar. He could have done better in that position after the Welshman's run.
11'GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid (Coutinho)
Goal! Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 0. The home side take the lead with a superb team goal. Arthur releases Alba over the top of the Madrid defence with a sublime throughball. The full-back takes the ball in stride to break into the box. Alba holds his composure to cut it back for Coutinho in the middle. The cross leaves Courtois stranded allowing the Brazilian to pick his spot, placing his effort into the bottom corner.
30'Penalty Goal! Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid (Suarez)
PENALTY TO BARCELONA! The referee overturns his initial decision after looking at the review and awards the spot-kick to the Catalan club. Suarez will take the penalty.
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!! SUAREZ CONVERTS!!! BARCELONA 2-0!!! The striker holds his nerve from 12 yards, curling his effort away from the dive of Courtois into the bottom corner. The Madrid keeper went the correct way, but the precision of the strike from Suarez beat his hand.
50'GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid (Marcelo)
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! MARCELO SCORES!! MADRID 2-1!! Out of nothing the visitors are back in the game as Marcelo seizes on a loose ball in the Barcelona box and hammers the ball into the net. Madrid cut the home side open down the right flank and Isco supplied a dangerous low cross into the penalty area. It was deflected into the path of the Brazilian, who made no mistake with his strike. Game on.
55' POST! Modric almost nets an equaliser
Madrid are centimetres away from an equaliser as Modric strikes the post. Barcelona lose possession on the edge of their own box and the midfielder takes control before unleashing a right-footed strike towards the bottom corner. Ter Stegen is flat-footed and beaten, but the post comes to the home side's rescue to deny Modric.
75'GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid (Suarez)
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!! SUAREZ NOTCHES HIS SECOND GOAL!! BARCA 3-1!!!! Suarez scores a huge goal to restore the home side's two-goal cushion. Barca raided upfield on a counter led by the pace of Dembele. He offloaded to Sergi Roberto on the right flank, who lifted a cross into the box. Sergi Roberto may have been looking for Alba behind the Uruguayan, but he used his predatory instincts to take the ball out of the air and guide a headed effort beyond the reach of Courtois.
83'GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Real Madrid (Suarez)
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!! SUAREZ HAS A HAT-TRICK!!! BARCELONA 4-1!!! Without Messi Barca needed their main man to perform and the Uruguayan has risen to the occasion. He latches on to Sergi Roberto's offload following a mistake by Ramos. The forward surges into the right inside channel before lifting his strike over Courtois into the net. That should seal the three points for Valverde's men.
87'GOAL! Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid (Vidal)
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! BARCELONA HAVE FIVE!!!! VIDAL SCORES!!! Barca are piling on the agony for Madrid as they score their fifth goal of the match. Dembele collects on the left flank and beats a challenge before lifting a cross towards the back post. Vidal rises to meet the ball, planting his effort into the back of the net. Madrid's humilation is complete.
Match Report
The irrepressible Suarez led Barca, who were rampant even without Lionel Messi and capitalised on their rivals' failings to move back to the top of LaLiga.
Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring for the champions and Suarez doubled their advantage in a devastating first-half showing, with Marcelo's response shortly after the restart merely a small bump in the road.
Suarez executed a magnificent header and then a gorgeous dinked finish, before Arturo Vidal added the fifth to prompt a party in the stands as Lopetegui, whose side remain ninth, shuffled towards the exit door.
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, S.Roberto, Rafinha, Lenglet, Arthur
Subs: Vidal, Jasper Cillessen, Semedo, Munir, O. Dembélé, Malcom, Chumi Brandariz
Real Madrid XI: Sergio Ramos, L. Modrić, Benzema, Bale, T. Kroos, Marcelo, T. Courtois, Casemiro, Isco, Nacho, R. Varane
Subs: K. Navas, Lucas Vázquez, M.Díaz, Álvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio, Ceballos, Valverde