Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid: Player ratings explained as Suarez steps up

 

There may have been no Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta or Cristiano Ronaldo but there was no shortage of drama in a Clasico without the usual suspects on show.

Barcelona reclaimed top spot with a convincing win after a Real Madrid fightback early in the second half, with Julen Lopetegui’s side dropping to ninth, seven points off the pace.

We run through the ratings after the blaugrana hit their fierce rivals 5-1 at Camp Nou.

BARCELONA - 7.30

Marc-Andre ter Stegen - 6.61: Had little to do in the game as Real Madrid were wayward with their best opportunities and could do little for Marcelo’s goal.

Sergio Roberto - 8.86: Proved his value to the side once more with an assured performance at right-back before moving forwards and helping to kill off the game with the assists for Suarez’s second and third.

Gerard Pique - 6.40: Assured at the back and drove forwards at times too. Should have done better with a good chance in the first half.

Clement Lenglet - 6.49: An encouraging performance in Barca colours from the Frenchman, who made some crucial interventions and distributed the ball well.

Jordi Alba - 8.80: The best player in the first half. Assisted Coutinho’s opener with a great cut back and played the ball from which Suarez won a first half penalty. Exposed a little too often after the break, but superb going forwards.

Arthur - 6.48: Had a good effort well saved by Courtois and kept possession very well but was a little overrun in the second half and substituted. Replaced by Arturo Vidal (6.89) who headed home his first goal for the club late on.

Sergio Busquets - 7.26: Broke up play well, as ever, with four tackles and two interceptions to ensure Barca were on the front foot in the first half.

Ivan Rakitic - 7.13: A harsh booking marred an otherwise composed display from the Croatian, who got the better of his compatriot for the visitors and completed 94 per cent of his passes.

Philippe Coutinho - 7.42: Took the opener well but was a little subdued in the second half in particular and didn’t carry a threat on the counter. Replaced by Ousmane Dembele (7.33), whose introduction changed the game, offering the hosts pace on the break and causing chaos in the Madrid defence.

Rafinha - 6.71: Lively in the first half but wasteful in possession and understandably replaced as the visitors began to peg the hosts into their own half. Replaced by Nelson Semedo (6.30), who wasn’t really tested as Real Madrid fell to pieces late on.

Luis Suarez - 9.57 (Man of the Match): An inch-perfect penalty, outstanding header and impudent dink saw the Uruguayan take his league goal tally in the Clasico to nine in as many appearances. Made some poor decisions in possession but was in the mood and too hot to handle for the visitors.

 

 

REAL MADRID - 6.14

Thibaut Courtois - 5.74: Made two good saves and could do little with the goals he conceded but another five against doesn’t make for good reading.

Nacho - 5.31: Outclassed by Alba in the first half. Looked to have regained composure after a move to centre-back but crumbled along with the rest of the defence late on.

Raphael Varane - 5.68: A shadow of the defender that was so assured in helping France to the World Cup. A clumsy challenge saw him concede a penalty for the second week running and he was withdrawn at half-time. Replaced by Lucas Vazquez (6.07) who changed the game up until the final 15 minutes, stretching the play and exposing Alba’s attacking forays.

Sergio Ramos - 5.06: Another Clasico to forget for Ramos, who looked lost in the first half and then back to his best early in the second before committing an error that allowed Barca to end the game at 4-1.

Marcelo - 7.40: Took his goal smartly when off balance and got forward well as usual before picking up an injury that left Madrid open to the counter late on. Replaced by Mariano (6.13), who had no opportunities to score and unsurprisingly left the visitors wide open for the counter.

Casemiro - 6.11: Not up to his usual tricks in midfield as Barcelona cut through Madrid all too easily, making just one tackle all game.

Toni Kroos - 7.00: Completely out of sorts and off the pace in the first half, began to take some control in the second and was probably Madrid’s best performer when they got a foothold in the game.

Luka Modric - 6.62: Another subdued display from a player that has looked tired following his World Cup exploits, though Rakitic had no such for the hosts in that regard. Hit the post with a glorious chance at 2-1, which proved decisive,

Isco - 6.13: Some moments of poise but that deserted him in the second half when he lashed a shot from just inside the box out for a throw in. Not his day.

Gareth Bale - 6.76: Looked relatively bright early on but as Real Madrid improved in the second half Bale’s influence waned and it was little surprise when he was substituted. Replaced by Marco Asensio (5.92), who could do nothing to stop Barcelona on the counter and had no real chance to impress.

Karim Benzema - 6.60: Pretty anonymous in the first half but began to link up far better in the second. Guilty of missing a glorious chance at 2-1 from a superb Vazquez cross.

Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid: Player ratings explained as Suarez steps up