On October 28, 2018, Barcelona delivered a stunning 5-1 win in the absence of Lionel Messi, crushing their eternal rivals. This win not only showcased Barça’s depth but also marked a crucial moment in the rivalry.
The Buildup to the game
The 2018 El Clásico between the Spanish Giants carried immense anticipation and pressure, as both teams faced significant challenges coming into the game. This was Real Madrid’s first season after the departure of their greatest attacker of all time Cristiano Ronaldo, and were in turmoil finding it difficult to adapt without him. On the other hand, Barcelona was without Lionel Messi, who fractured his arm in Barcelona’s previous League game against Sevilla.
Credits: FC Barcelona
This game was an interesting one as both Barcelona and Madrid were playing without their star players after almost 13 years. This clash was highly anticipated as the fans were looking for a new face to capitalize on this clash.
The buildup to this game was highly uncertain, making it one of the most awaited games in years.
Lineups
Barcelona Starting XI (4-3-3): ter Stegen (GK), Sergi Roberto, Gerard Piqué, Clément Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Arthur Melo, Ivan Rakitić, Rafinha, Luis Suárez, Philippe Coutinho.
Real Madrid Starting XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois (GK), Nacho, Raphaël Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Luka Modrić, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Isco.
The Match
The hero of the game was none other than Luis Suárez, who stepped up in Lionel Messi’s absence.
From the start, Barcelona dominated the play with their possession game. Philippe Coutinho opened up the scoring for Barcelona making it 1-0. Moments later, Luis Suárez made it 2-0 with a calmly finished penalty past Courtois. Despite being 2 goals down, Real Madrid got the first giving fans a glimpse of hope.
Credits: TalkFCB
Luis Suárez completed his brace with a brilliant header and scored another with a chip to make it a hat-trick. To seal the deal Arturo Vidal made it 5-1 to complete the demolition.
Reviews
This match highlighted Barcelona’s class with their tactical brilliance under Valverde. This also showcased Barcelona’s performance without their main man and how they can cope.