Barcelona buries Real Madrid 5-1 in one-sided El Clasico

With the injured Lionel Messi watching from the Camp Nou stands, Luis Suarez scored a hat trick to lead Barcelona to a 5-1 rout of Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday.

With the injured Lionel Messi watching from the Camp Nou stands, Luis Suarez scored a hat trick to lead Barcelona to a 5-1 rout of Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday. (Photo | AP) 

Marcelo pulled one back for Madrid early in the second half after a Suarez goal, but Uruguayan scored twice again to ensure the win, and the league lead for Barcelona, before substitute Arturo Vidal completed the demolition. (Photo | AP)

The win lifted Barcelona back to the top of the Spanish league with 21 points, while Madrid was left languishing in ninth place with 14 points. (Photo | AP)

Madrid has now gone five rounds without a win, including four losses, in its first season under Julen Lopetegui. (Photo | AP)

But other than the first 30 minutes of the second half, Barcelona dominated its fierce rival and European champion — even without its best player. (Photo | AP)

Barcelona earned a second goal with help from a video replay after Raphael Varane barged into Suarez at the edge of the six-yard box. The referee awarded the spot kick after consulting the video monitor on the sideline, allowing Suarez to step up and perfectly execute the strike by driving a low shot between the post and the outstretched Courtois. (Photo | AP)

While Madrid could only muster timid long shots by Gareth Bale and Marcelo, Barcelona went close with a strike by Arthur that Courtois did well to palm away. (Photo | AP)

Madrid was fortunate to go into halftime not behind by another goal after Barcelona squandered two promising opportunities on counterattacks only to stumble on the decisive pass. (Photo | AP)

'We are very proud to have the best player in the world (Messi) on our team,' Suarez said, '(but) we showed that we are a great team and that we have a great coach.' (Photo | AP)

It was Barcelona's biggest victory against Madrid since a 4-0 win at Madrid in 2015 and 5-0 at home in 2010. (Photo | AP)