Real Madrid 3-1 FC Barcelona: Five talking points
Delight: Real came up trumps in the first Clasico of the Spanish seasonBiggest game on Earth? Real Madrid have the biggest names on Earth, producing a performance of verve, intent and skill to emerge triumphant in this enthralling El Clasico.Barcelona were not awful, not devoid of skill and undoubted quality, but Real were too good.Cristiano Ronaldo, from the penalty spot, Pepe and Karim Benzema scored the goals for Carlo Ancelotti's side.Here are five talking points from a thrilling Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
#1 Luis Enrique ready to drop under-performing stars
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique displayed a show of ruthlessness in dropping Croatian playmaker Ivan Rakitic. Although impressing during the La Liga thus far, Rakitic suffered the dear repurcusions of a poor individual display against PSG before the international break. Xavi, who was reportedly on the verge of a move to Qatar in the summer, started in his place.
Xavi was ultimately replaced by Rakitic mid-way through the second-half but such a harsh repurcusion encapsulates Enrique’s hard-line approach to under-performing stars.