Benitez takes blame for El Clasico defeat

MADRID, Spain (Kurdistan24) – Barcelona put in a dominant performance to beat fierce league rivals Real Madrid by a thumping score of 4-0 yesterday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

Barcelona were without their influential player, Lionel Messi, who started from the bench, but that didn’t matter as the Catalan club put in a perfect performance to dismantle their opponents.

Striker’s Luis Suarez and Neymar scored twice in the first half to give Barcelona a commanding lead at the half. Andres Iniesta scored shortly after the restart of the second half before Suarez added a fourth to condemn Real Madrid to a bitter defeat.

Real Madrid were poor in possession and created very little in the middle of the pitch. The combination of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale wasn’t enough to trouble the Barcelona defence.

Real Madrid had Isco sent off late in the game, ending the match with 10-men. The loss means the Madrid club are now six points behind rivals Barcelona in the Spanish League, missing their opportunity to go top.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said after the match, “This victory tastes glorious because it is against our eternal rivals,” adding, “It will be very difficult for us to better this performance.”

Enrique believes that his side were capable of scoring more goals and “were a level above [Real Madrid]…in many areas of the game.”

Opposing coach Rafael Benetiz took full blame for his side’s loss, pointing to his team selection as the issue. “With the match now over, we can clearly say that the line-up didn’t work,” Benitez said.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager also emphasized the importance of moving on from defeat. “Rather than analysing the game, which of course we will do, what matters most now is lifting the group’s spirits quickly and getting everyone to see the importance of the upcoming fixtures.”