Barcelona have produced a fine performance to thrash arch-rivals Real Madrid 4-0 in the first El Clasico of the season at the Bernabeu and move six points clear at the top of La Liga.
After a pre-match tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, Barca started brightly with Luis Suarez and Neymar linking up well for the latter to fire over from the edge of the box.
In a cauldron of noise in Madrid the home side had the first clear-cut opportunity when Cristiano Ronaldo raced past Javier Mascherano before firing a low ball across goal which Claudio Bravo did well to clear, but moments later the locals were silenced as the Catalans scored a fine opener.
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Sergi Roberto drove through the heart of the home side's flimsy midfield before slipping a reverse pass into the path of Suarez, and the Uruguayan drilled past the helpless Keylor Navas with the outside of his foot to put the league leaders in front.
Barca continued to dictate the play after going in front against a Madrid side struggling to find any kind of rhythm and Neymar's free kick was saved by Navas midway through the first half before the impressive Roberto missed a superb chance to double the lead, leaning back as he tried to turn home a bouncing ball and instead firing over the crossbar.
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Karim Benzema failed to convert amid panicked defending from the visitors as Real tried to force their way into the match, but when the second goal arrived minutes later it was more bad news for Rafael Benitez's side.
Fine play from Andres Iniesta resulted in the Barca skipper playing Neymar through on goal, and with the Real defence appealing for offside the Brazilian slipped a neat finish under Navas from a tight angle to put Barcelona in control.
They could have had a third seconds before the half-time whistle when Marcelo was in the right place to clear Suarez's header off the line, and Madrid briefly threatened a revival in the early stages of the second half with Marcelo firing wide and James Rodriguez forcing a fine save from Bravo.
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However, Barcelona secured the win with just over 35 minutes still to play when Iniesta broke from midfield and passed to Neymar, and the Brazilian's backheeled return ball was smashed home by the skipper to stun the home crowd into silence once more.
Suarez poked an effort into the side-netting as Luis Enrique's side refused to settle, and the Uruguayan collected substitute Lionel Messi's through ball to complete the rout by clipping home a fourth 16 minutes from time.
A torrid night for Benitez and Real was completed with six minutes to go when Isco was sent off for a poor challenge on Neymar, and though Madrid had some late chances, 4-0 did not flatter Barca as they moved six points clear at the summit.
Tom Nightingale
