Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta shine as Luis Enrique's side run riot to win El Clasico

  • Barcelona thrashed rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to go six points clear at the top of La Liga
  • Luis Suarez neatly opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a finish using the outside of his foot
  • Neymar doubled the advantage from Andres Iniesta's clever pass and his shot squeezed past Keylor Navas 
  • The impressive Iniesta made it three in the second half with a thumping finish into the top corner
  • Suarez then found himself through on goal and brilliantly lifted the ball over Navas
  • Things went from bad to worse for Real when playmaker Isco was sent off for a foul on Neymar  

When Andres Iniesta’s screamer hit the back of Keylor Navas' net on 53 minutes a beleaguered Rafa Benitez could be seen scribbling something down in his note pad – ‘3-0’ presumably.

Real Madrid had been taken apart by Barcelona with goals from Luis Suarez, Neymar and Iniesta. Lionel Messi had not needed to come off the bench such was their superiority, and there was still a fourth goal and a sending for Isco off to come.

‘We all have to take the blame when we lose. It hurts and it hurts a lot,’ said Benitez after the game. ‘We have to get better. The league is still there to be won.’ Asked if he feared for his job he said he was only interested in preparing for the next game. It seems unlikely that President Florentino Perez will make a change but Real are now six points behind Barcelona who have managed majestically without Messi.

Scroll down for video 

Luis Suarez (left) fires home the opener for Barcelona as they shocked arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday

Luis Suarez (left) fires home the opener for Barcelona as they shocked arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday

Former Liverpool striker Suarez wheels away in celebration as the Catalan giants took control early on

Former Liverpool striker Suarez wheels away in celebration as the Catalan giants took control early on

 Brazilian superstar Neymar celebrates after doubling the lead from Andres Iniesta's brilliant through ball

 Brazilian superstar Neymar celebrates after doubling the lead from Andres Iniesta's brilliant through ball

Spanish maestro Iniesta then found the net himself with a thumping finish from the edge of Real's penalty area

Spanish maestro Iniesta then found the net himself with a thumping finish from the edge of Real's penalty area

MATCH FACTS

REAL MADRID: Navas, Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo (Carvajal - 55), Modric, Bale, Kroos, Rodriguez (Isco - 55), Ronaldo, Benzema

Subs not used: Casilla, Pepe, Casemiro, Kovacic, Jese

Booked: Ramos, Rodriguez, Carvajal

Red: Isco 84 

Barcelona: Bravo, Alba, Pique, Mascherano (Mathieu - 27), Alves, Busquets, Iniesta (Munir - 77), Rakitic (Messi - 57), Roberto, Suarez, Neymar

Subs not used: Ter Stegen, Sandro, Adriano, Vermaelen

Goals: Suarez 11, 74, Neymar 39, Iniesta 53

Booked: Alves, Rakitic 

He finally took to the field after 57 minutes and set-up Suarez for the fourth goal. By the time Isco hacked wildly at Neymar to receive the red card many Madrid supporters were already heading for the exits.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique also had the luxury of taking off Iniesta with 15 minutes left. 10 years on from the standing ovation that Ronaldinho was given by the Santiago Bernabeu they applauded another Barca player as he left the pitch.

‘I’m not surprised’ said Luis Enrique. ‘He is one of the wonders of the world, he belongs to all of us. We are delighted with the performance the result will go down in history.'  

Suarez set the tone with his pressing of Real Madrid’s unprotected defence and his first time finish broke the deadlock.

The goal came on 11 minutes and Sergio Roberto made it with positive run from midfield at the heart of the Real Madrid defence.

Sergio Ramos came out to meet him leaving Suarez unmarked and the Uruguayan gratefully accepted the gift of the extra space. With the outside of his right foot he bent a first-time shot past Keylor Navas and into the far corner.

Real were struggling but they were handed a boost when Javier Mascherano hobbled off just before the half hour. Jeremy Mathieu came on to replace him and Barcelona looked less assured.

Mathieu it was who missed a Modric cross and Karim Benzema should have finished at the back post. Claudio Bravo then dropped a deep Gareth Bale cross and Matheiu had to scramble the ball away. 

Iniesta celebrates his goal as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table to go six points clear

Iniesta celebrates his goal as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table to go six points clear

Suarez delightfully lifts the ball over Real keeper Navas to make it 4-0 and extinguish any hope of a comeback in Madrid

Suarez delightfully lifts the ball over Real keeper Navas to make it 4-0 and extinguish any hope of a comeback in Madrid

Isco was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on Neymar and the home fans began to make their exit 

Isco was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on Neymar and the home fans began to make their exit 

Cristiano Ronaldo throws his hand up in frustration after missing a golden opportunity to pull one back

Cristiano Ronaldo throws his hand up in frustration after missing a golden opportunity to pull one back

Gareth Bale appeals for a foul after being brought down on a night the Wales international would prefer to forget

Gareth Bale appeals for a foul after being brought down on a night the Wales international would prefer to forget

Grande equipo!!!!!!

A photo posted by Andres Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) on

😏🤔😬 @leomessi @luissuarez9 VISCA BARÇA 🔵🔴

A photo posted by Nj 🇧🇷 (@neymarjr) on

They were let offs for Barcelona who soon doubled their lead. Suarez was chasing back and he unsettled Modric. Iniesta who had run the first half for the visitors scooped the ball away from the Croatian and played in Neymar who beat Navas at his near-post.

As the Real Madrid players went off at half-time the Bernabeu whistled as one and most supporters sang ‘Florentino [Perez] resign’. The players were even jeered back on to the pitch at the restart – it was hardly the stuff to lift them but they had the first chance of the second half when Bale fed James Rodriguez and he fizzed a low shot that Claudio Bravo got down well to his right to save.

There was more misery for Madrid to come however when Ivan Rakitic played the ball forward to Neymar. He flicked it into Iniesta’s path and the captain met it sweetly to shoot past Navas and into the top corner.

That was the cue for more whistles of discontent from the home fans and for Messi to strip to come on. Real Madrid took off Rodriguez and that brought more jeers for Benitez because he had been their best attacking player.

Gareth Bale raced away and fed Cristiano Ronaldo but Bravo saved brilliantly from the Portuguese who also hit the bar from an offside position.

Madrid’s forwards had been completely overshadowed by their Barca counterparts and there was still time for Suarez to dink the fourth over Navas after a mazy run from Messi.

Benitez had made plenty of notes during this lesson from the reigning champions. It was impossible not to feel for him as he faced reporters.

‘It’s not about attitude’ he said. But it seemed that regardless of tactics too many of his players had not played for him, and against Barcelona on this form that was only ever going to produce one result.

Barca's players walk over to thank their travelling supporters at the end of the game after thrashing their arch-rivals

Barca's players walk over to thank their travelling supporters at the end of the game after thrashing their arch-rivals

Ronaldo looks dejected at the final whistle as his side were outclassed from start to finish at the Bernabeu 

Ronaldo looks dejected at the final whistle as his side were outclassed from start to finish at the Bernabeu 

Lionel Messi returned after two months out of the game, coming off the bench in the second half to provide the assist for Suarez's second goal

Lionel Messi returned after two months out of the game, coming off the bench in the second half to provide the assist for Suarez's second goal

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now