In the last decade, Barcelona had beaten Real Madrid 5-0, 4-3, 3-2, 4-0, 3-1 and 6-2. Now they can add a 5-1 to that list
Sofi Balbi couldn’t be there the day her husband became only the second footballer to score a hat-trick in 70 clásicos going back a quarter of a century, but fortunately the neighbour was available to take the kids to the game for her. They wouldn’t have wanted to miss this for the world and, off work with a broken arm, he didn’t have anything better to do. Besides, he was taking his son anyway. So, Sofi stayed home with five-day-old Lautaro and watched on telly while Benja and Delfina had a day out with Lionel and Thiago Messi, sitting together in the Camp Nou front row cheering as their dad scored three against Real Madrid: an eight-year-old, a six-year-old, a five-year-old and the only other man to have done that (twice, in fact) since Romario snapped Rafa Alkorta’s hips in two in January 1994 and Ivan Zamorano starred as Madrid 5-0ed them back almost exactly a year later.
When Luis Suárez scored his first in Sunday’s clásico, he dashed to the camera and lifted up his shirt to reveal a photo of Benja, Delfina and their new little brother, “welcome, Lauti” written on the front; when he scored his second, he ran over to give them a kiss; and when he scored his third, he ducked behind the goal at the north end and held his hand to his ear. Listen to that. The roar rocked the place, they chanted “Uruguayo! Uruguayo!” and then they bounced about, singing: “Boing! Boing! Boing! Whoever doesn’t boing is a Madridista!” By the touchline, Madrid manager, Julen Lopetegui, wasn’t bouncing; he wasn’t even standing any more. Silently, he sat, head in hands. “It hurts,” he said later, but it will all be over soon. Very, very soon.
Related: Luis Suárez hits hat-trick as Barcelona demolish insipid Real Madrid
Related: Cristiano Ronaldo: I left Real Madrid because of president Florentino Pérez
| GOAL! |
Luis Suarez makes history. The first man to score a penalty awarded after VAR consultation in #ElClasico! ⚽️
Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/3LV7KwJth2
| GOAL! |
Suarez nets his second, and Barcelona's third. Real Madrid looked to be back in it, but that looks to be the decisive blow. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/0UsPWI9h9j
| GOAL! |
Luis Suarez nets his hat-trick.
He dinks Thibaut Courtois and wraps up #ElClasico victory for Barcelona.
Barcelona 4-1 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/C0G7rGH1aR
Sevilla 2-1 Huesca, Alavés 2-1 Villarreal, Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid, Getafe 2-0 Real Betis, Atlético Madrid 2-0 Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo 4-0 Eibar, Levante 2-0 Leganés, Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Valencia, Girona 2-1 Rayo Vallecano, Valladolid 1-1 Espanyol
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