Real Madrid Ronaldo 35', Pepe 50', Benzema 61' Barcelona Neymar 4'
Man of the match Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid centre-back, called his side “incredible” after they came from behind to win el clasico and cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the Primera Liga to one point.
Neymar stunned a packed and hostile Bernabeu with a superb goal to give Barca a fourth-minute lead before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled with a penalty in the 35th, the first goal the Catalan side had conceded in nine league outings this term.
Pepe made it 2-1 to the European champions six minutes into the second half and a misunderstanding between Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano led to Madrid’s third after the hour when Karim Benzema finished off a swift break with a clinical strike.
“The team was incredible in every aspect,” Ramos said. “Even though we fell behind early we always kept clear that we wanted to dominate the match and not relinquish possession to them. There are always different phases of a game and we knew how to read and manage each one.”
There was no dream return for Luis Suarez, making his Barca debut after a four-month ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup. The Uruguay forward set up Neymar’s opener and combined well with his teammates despite his contact with them having been limited to training and one friendly.
“I am very happy to return to playing, it is a great relief to have this time behind me,” said Suarez, who was substituted after 68 minutes. “The feeling is bittersweet because of the result.”
Barca manager Luis Enrique said he did not regret his decision to start the Uruguayan.
“He did more than I expected,” Enrique said. “He played more and with rhythm.”
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