Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona outclassed Real Madrid to seal a stylish El Clasico victory that further damages their bitter rivals and Madrid’s stricken manager Julen Lopetegui.
The former Spain boss now seems certain to lose his job in the wake of a humiliating defeat in a match crucial to his chances of survival.
His side conjured something of a revival in the second half but ultimately they were sunk by an irresistible Barca performance, and it now appears only a question of when he will be fired.
Philippe Coutinho slotted in and Suarez converted a penalty, awarded by a video assistant referee decision for Raphael Varane’s foul on the Uruguayan, for Barca’s half-time advantage.
Marcelo chested down and finished to give Real hope, but Suarez’s header and chipped finish, followed by Arturo Vidal’s header, completed the rout.
The visitors had begun the day within four points of Barca, but now trail them by seven and find themselves ninth in the table after 10 matches.
Ernesto Valverde’s side, winners of seven league titles from the past 10, are top of the league, leading Atletico Madrid by two points.
BBC
