Real Madrid’s hopes of retaining their La Liga title appeared to be fading fast as they lost in the “El Classico” on Saturday.
Goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal propelled FC Barcelona to a 3-0 win, lifting them 14-points clear of their rivals in the standings.
Suarez capitalised on wide open space in Madrid’s midfield to knock in a simple pass from Sergi Roberto following a breakaway move in the 54th minute.
That opened the scoring after a tense but tight first half in the early afternoon sun at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Messi hammered in the second goal from the penalty kick spot 20 minutes later, after Dani Carvajal was sent off for blocking a goal-bound header from Paulinho.
He had blocked with his arm after Real were again easily picked apart on the counter-attack.
Catalan defender-turned-winger Vidal hit the third in injury time to pile more misery on Madrid.
The title-holders were looked unrecognisable from the side who crushed Barca 5-1 on aggregate in the Spanish Super Cup in August.
Title hopes fade for Real Madrid as FC Barcelona win El Classico
