Bragging rights: Real crowned Clasico kings, cut Barca's lead to one point

Home side defeats Catalonians 3-1 at the Bernabeu.

MADRID: Luis Suarez's Barcelona debut ended in defeat as Real Madrid reduced the gap on the La Liga leaders to just one point as they came from behind to win El Clasico 3-1 on Saturday thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Karim Benzema.

Playing for the first time in a competitive match since being handed a four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, Suarez's Barcelona career got off to a flying start as he set up Neymar to slide home the opening goal after just three minutes.

However, Real responded as Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot, before second-half goals from Pepe and Benzema handed them a deserved ninth consecutive victory in all competitions.

"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, but this team has lifted itself many times before."

While the decision to start Suarez was widely criticised, Barca boss Luis Enrique is sticking by it. "I don't regret it at all," said Enrique. "He did more than I expected. We brought him off because it is very difficult to play the 90 minutes after such a long time."

The Catalonians conceded for the first time this season and Real coach Carlo Ancelotti believes it was down to the high intensity that Los Blancos kept up almost throughout the match, despite having travelled to Anfield in midweek. “I liked many things about the team, above all the high tempo we played with,” he said. “The team recovered well with just two days rest after Wednesday and played very well."

The Italian also praised his side's reaction to conceding early on. "We didn't lose our heads after conceding the early goal," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2014.

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