Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid: Luis Suarez hat-trick surely draws curtain on Julen Lopetegui's tragic reign
Relive all the action from the Nou Camp
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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.
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.
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?
Barcelona vs Real Madrid - 3:15 K/O
It's in some ways an anti-climactic clasicoas a Messi-less Barcelona welcome struggling post-Ronaldo Real Madrid to the Nou Camp.
However, for Julen Lopetegui, this may be the defining match of his managerial career - if his future has not already been decided.
Madrid have won just once in their last five La Liga games and are currently ninth in the league,
Lopetegui was adamant that his Real Madrid career was far from over during his pre-match press conference insisting:
I don't think I'll die. I think there is life after the Clásico.
All I can do is think about my job and I am not worried about what people are saying but just on my team.
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.
Barcelona starting line-up:
XI: ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Arthur, Busquets, Rakitic; Rafinha, Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Cillessen, Chumi, Semedo, Dembélé, Vidal, Malcom, El Haddadi
Real Madrid starting line-up:
XI: Courtois; Nacho, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Isco; Bale, Benzema
Subs: Navas, Odriozola, Lucas Vázquez, Ceballos, Valverde, Mariano, Asensio
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.
Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
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.
Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
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.
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