Luis Suarez is Lionel Messi for a day as Barcelona humiliate Real Madrid with Julen Lopetegui facing the sack

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Ben Hayward28 October 2018

Much of the talk ahead of the Clasico was centred on how Barcelona would replace Lionel Messi. In the end, however, they did not need to as Luis Suarez stepped into the Argentine’s sizeable shoes with a brilliant hat-trick to leave Real Madrid beaten and Julen Lopetegui broken.

Messi is sidelined with an arm fracture sustained last Saturday in the 4-2 win against Sevilla here and he was watching on from the sidelines as Barca beat Inter 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

For that match, coach Ernesto Valverde picked Rafinha in Messi’s absence and the Brazilian started again in this one as the Barca boss sent out the same XI for the Clasico.

And with Arthur again excellent in midfield, Barca were in complete control in a one-sided first half against a lifeless Madrid side.

Philippe Coutinho gave the Catalans the lead early on and Suarez scored the second with a penalty confined by VAR. It was 2-0 at half-time, but could have been far worse for the visitors.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

The second half brought a tactical switch from Lopetegui as Real played three at the back and Marcelo quickly pulled a goal back in a spell of pressure which almost brought parity as Luka Modric hit the post and Karim Benzema headed over.

But Barca adapted too. Valverde sent on Nelson Semedo for Rafinha and Sergi Roberto moved into midfield, while Ousmane Dembele came on a little later for Coutinho to exploit the spaces and Arturo Vidal replaced Arthur for the final few minutes.

Madrid’s hopes ended as Marcelo limped off with 15 minutes left. The Brazilian shared a hug with coach Lopetegui and it may well be a final embrace because moments later, Suarez restored Barca’s two-goal lead with a fine header from a Roberto cross.

The same combination made it 4-1 as Roberto spotted Suarez’s run and the Uruguayan chipped the ball over Courtois amid wild celebrations at Camp Nou and chants of “uruguayooo” in appreciation for the South American striker, recovering his finest form after criticism earlier in the season.

And right at the end, some superb wing play from Dembele set up Vidal to head home to the fifth as two players with a point to prove rounded off a famous victory for Barca without Messi, who was beaming in the stands.

Photo: Reuters/Albert Gea
REUTERS/Albert Gea

Valverde’s very first games for Barcelona saw the Blaugrana beaten 5-1 by Real Madrid in a Spanish Supercopa series just after Neymar had left the club in August of last year, so this win will be particularly satisfying for the coach as the champions move seven points clear of their fierce rivals in La Liga.

For Real, it will be a bitter pill to swallow but is the confirmation of a death foretold as Lopetegui stares at the sack. The season is still young and Madrid may yet recover, but their coach will not as his reign is doomed to end in the most humiliating of circumstances.

When asked about his position as head coach after the match, Lopetegui seemed resigned to the end result.

“I’m not the one who makes the decisions. I speak of my belief in this team. The rest is not my responsibility.”

“In the first half, we can reproach not having had more of the ball. But if you don’t score after that, you have to go into an open tomb. The game finished for us with the 3-1.”

“We know how the world of football works. The ultimate responsibility falls on the coach.”

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