Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid: Luis Suarez hat-trick surely draws curtain on Julen Lopetegui's tragic reign
Luis Suarez scored a thrilling hat-trick to surely draw the curtain on Julen Lopetegui's tragic reign as Barcelona ran rampant against Real Madrid at the Nou Camp.
It was initially set to be somewhat of an anti-climactic encounter between the two sides with Lionel Messi out injured and Real Madrid still struggling in the post-Ronaldo era yet it proved anything but.
Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring for the home side after just twelve minutes when Jordi Alba cut in behind the laboured Nacho and his pull back alowed the former Liverpool midfielder to guide it into a near-empty net.
Suarez celebrates after scoring Barcelona's second from the spot (Getty)
Moments later Suarez broke free in the box only to be bundled over by Raphael Varane and although the referee initially waved away the Uruguayan's penalty claim, upon reviewing the screen at pitchside under instruction from VAR officials, the penalty was awarded. Thibaut Courtois guessed correctly but Suarez's strike nestled right in the side netting and Barcelona were two goals up with just 30 mins played.
An increasingly despondent looking Lopetegui switched his system at half time to a three-at-the-back which initially bamboozled Barcelona's front men and after spurning a number of opportunities the ball broke to Marcelo on the edge of the box who chested it onto his weaker right foot before scything home.
Suddenly Madrid were haranguing Barcelona's defence as the Nou Camp became subdued and Luka Modric drilled a low shot against the outside of the post.
Coutinho fired Barcelona into an early lead (Getty)
Yet, completely against the run of play, Ousmane Dembele dribbled at the Real Madrid defence before laying off to Sergi Roberto whose rifled cross was brilliantly glanced home by Suarez from near to the edge of the box.
From there on out things only became embarrassing for Lopetegui's side. Sergio Ramos fumbled the ball in his own-half leaving Suarez in acres of space to run at goal before deftly dinking it over Courtois. Substitute Arturo Vidal then added the fifth and final wound with a header from just six-yards after some fine trickery from Dembele.
The question is not so much as whether Julen Lopetegui will be sacked in the morning, but whether it may happen ever soooner?
Meanwhile Ernesto Valverde used his press conference to warn hi side against a 'wounded' Madrid and corral Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele to shine in Messi's absence.
We know what Madrid are like, they are more dangerous when they are wounded.
There's nothing to split the two teams based on recent form. The pair have two wins a piece from their last five games while their last meeting was the fiery 2-2 here towards the end of last season where Sergi Roberto received his marching orders.
5': Barcelona are targeting Real Madrid down the left flank and float a few teasing crosses into the box but there's nobody there to meet them. A positive start for the home side.
Goal 11' Coutinho: Barcelona had been targeting the left flank and it's a simple lifted ball over the top which Alba runs on to having sped past Nacho before cutting back to Coutinho who can't miss with a near open net in front of him.
18': Really clumsy from Madrid as they look to play out from the back and the ball breaks to Coutinho on the edge of the box whose long-range strike forces Courtois into an acrobatic save.
22': Real Madrid are slowly starting to get into the game after a sluggish start. They seem short on confidence and were shell-shocked by that early goal but manage to hold possession in Barcelona's final third. In the end though it comes to very little.
27': Huge moment here as Luis Suarez is brought down in the box by Varane and the referee is going to the monitor to have a closer look after being referred to VAR.
Goal 29' Suarez: Courtois goes the right way but the Suarez nestles it low and right into the bottom-right corner. Great penalty and Julen Lopetegui looks lost on the touchline
36': Real Madrid are showing no signs of a comeback, in fact, they look as though they're already in danger of waving a flag to match their strip. Again Alba gets in too easily down the left and crosses across the face of goal and it's only just turned away.
38': The first yellow card of the match, unsurprisingly, is administered to Nacho who's been terrorised at right back. This time he's upended Coutinho. Lopetegui surely has to try and alter his tactics now.
