Real Madrid were humiliated 4-0 at home on Saturday by arch-rivals, Barcelona, in the first Spanish El Clasico of the 2015/16 season.
South American duo, Luis Suarez and Neymar, continued their sensational goal-scoring form scoring twice and once respectively on the night with skipper Andres Iniesta also on the score sheet.
The victory takes the Catalan side six points above Real who tasted their second consecutive defeat after slipping to Sevilla before the international break.
Here are five talking points from the game.
- Benitez isn’t right for Real
Despite just two defeats in 16 games in charge, Rafael Benitez’s job is now in doubt as the home fans turned on club president Florentino Perez towards the end of the game.
The build-up to the match was dominated by talks of club legend and assistant coach, Zinedine Zidane touted to replace the ‘not so’ popular Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu.
And the Spaniard’s poor relationship with some senior figure at the club such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos might have just aggravated his problems.
Against Barca, the former Liverpool and Napoli boss got his tactics all wrong and admitted this in his post match conference.
“We’ve made mistakes and against a team like Barca, you pay for those dearly,” admitted Benitez.
“We wanted to attack and win back the ball high up the field but it didn’t come off. We’re responsible for it not going well.”
- Ronaldo frustrated in Madrid
One incident that played out in Real’s embarrassing loss to Barca was fans of the capital club booing Ballon d’Or holder, Ronaldo.
The Blancos vented their anger at Ronaldo for the team’s shambolic display at home, jeering the Portugal international during the latter stages of the game.
Ronaldo who is yet to agree to a new deal at the club, has been constantly linked with summer moves to Paris Saint German, Chelsea and a return to Manchester United.
Former Barcelona and Spain striker Julio Salinas said about the player: “He’s not as much of a protagonist as usual. He’s suffering and he seems a little depressed.
“He is lacking motivation. He’s unhappy and I think he is showing that.”
- There’s more to Barca than Messi
When Lionel Messi got injured about two months, not many would have predicted the club’s current run of form.
Fans of the Catalan club had feared that injury to their star striker could hamper their domestic and continental aspirations.
In his absence, two players – Neymar and Suarez – have taken up the mantle to provide the goals for the team.
The pair scored 18 goals during Messi’s absence and, with him watching from the dugout, added three more to their tally against Real.
Of course, Messi will play a crucial part if Barcelona are to win trophies this season. But they have shown over a number of weeks – and against their biggest rivals – that they have a team packed with top quality players who are also able to make the difference.
- El Clasico becoming boring
Once upon a time, the El Clasico used to be exciting, intense and entertaining – with the build-up equally as exciting as the game itself.
Touch-line duels, pre-match and post-match altercations, hunger and bragging rights are all at stake in these games.
Though still the most followed club football rivalry on the planet, the game is gradually losing its attractiveness due to the exit of some players as well as managers from Spain.
Players like Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Iker Casillas, Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria have all moved on in search of greener pastures, while the charismatic presence of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola hasn’t been replaced.
“Before it was difficult to come here and win but now the amateur can come with optimism to the Bernabeu,” Barca’s Sergio Busquets said after the game.
- Barca are title favourites
Barcelona’s victory moves them six points clear of Real at the top of La Liga. It feels like a pivotal moment in the title race.
Had Real won on Saturday they could have hit the summit on goal difference. Instead they seem a long way off, with star names struggling under an under-fire manager.
Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry gave his verdict on Barca’s title credentials: “Barca lost and lost well against Celta Vigo away from home and they lost to Sevilla. They know going away from home and sometimes at home, games are difficult. It’s not a title decider but it will play a lot on the mind of Madrid and give Barcelona great momentum.”
