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SPORTS Monday 29 october 2018

Barcelona beats Madrid 5-1

Continued from page 18 midfielder did his part by
providing a cool finish with
It was Barcelona’s biggest his left foot to beat goal-
victory against Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois in
since a 4-0 win at Madrid the 11th.
in 2015 and 5-0 at home in While Madrid could only
2010. muster timid long shots by
The win lifted Barcelona Gareth Bale and Marcelo,
back to the top of the Barcelona went close with
Spanish league with 21 a strike by Arthur that Cour-
points, while Madrid was tois did well to palm away.
left languishing in ninth Barcelona earned a sec-
place with 14 points. ond goal with help from a
Madrid has now gone five video replay after Raphael
rounds without a win, in- Varane barged into Suarez
cluding four losses, in its first at the edge of the six-yard
season under Lopetegui. box.
Despite having as many The referee awarded the Barcelona forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Spanish
defeats as wins this season, spot kick after consulting La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in
Lopetegui said that he still the video monitor on the Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.
believed he could turn Ma- sideline, allowing Suarez Associated Press
drid’s season around. to step up and perfectly
“We all know how football execute the strike by driv-
works and the one who is ing a low shot between the
ultimately responsible is the post and the outstretched
coach, but there is more to Courtois.
it and we all win and lose Madrid was fortunate to
together,” Lopetegui said. go into halftime not behind
“I think that it is early in the by another goal after Bar-
season and even though celona squandered two
today is a sad day Madrid promising opportunities
can have a good year. I still on counterattacks only to
have strength to lead the stumble on the decisive
group.” pass.
The match was the first The match briefly swung
“clasico” since 2007 to be the visitors’ way after the
played without both Messi restart.
and former Madrid forward Lopetegui substituted
Cristiano Ronaldo. Varane with Lucas Vazquez
Barcelona was playing its at halftime, and the for-
second game since Mes- ward played a role in Mar-
si broke his right arm last celo’s goal by combining
weekend in a win over Se- with Isco before his pass
villa. was deflected for Marcelo
But other than the first 30 to finish off in the 51st.
minutes of the second half, Madrid pressed for the
Barcelona dominated its equalizer that Luka Modric
fierce rival — and Europe- almost claimed when he
an champion — even with- was unmarked to hit the
out its best player. post.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde sent on defender
Valverde stuck with the Nelson Semedo and shifted
same starting 11 that beat Sergi Roberto into attack.
Inter Milan 2-0 in the Cham- Suarez soon volleyed a
pions League midweek, headed pass from Rober-
with Rafinha taking Messi’s to off the upright. He then
place. linked up again with Rober-
Lopetegui’s only hole to fill to twice more to turn what
in his first-choice 11 was to was appearing to be a
play Nacho Fernandez at evenly fought contest into
right back in place of the an easy win.
injured Dani Carvajal. The Uruguay striker used a
Jordi Alba was a pest to powerful turn of his neck to
Madrid from the start. A fire a header home from
long ball from Ivan Rakitic Roberto’s pass in the 75th.
into Fernandez’s area of He then completed his tre-
coverage left Alba alone ble in the 83rd by chipping
after fine control to romp Courtois after Roberto stole
into the area and pick the ball from Sergio Ramos.
out Coutinho arriving in a Vidal headed in a fifth goal
second wave. The Brazil with Madrid in disarray.q