ESPN FC’s Martin Ainstein reports from Madrid on Real’s 3-1 victory over Barcelona in this season’s first El Clasico.
Luis Suarez said his first game for Barcelona had been “bittersweet” after he helped create the match’s opening goal, but was then powerless as Real Madrid roared back to win Saturday’s La Liga clasico 3-1 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Suarez, an 80 million-euro summer signing, was finally available after his four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at last summer’s World Cup ended on Friday night, and he was thrown straight in for his first start by blaugrana coach Luis Enrique.
The game began excellently for the former Liverpool player, who set up his side’s opening goal for Neymar on just three minutes. But his influence on the game faded as Madrid took control and ran out easy winners with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo (penalty), Pepe and Karim Benzema.
This meant the experience had been not all had hoped for, however just playing again had to be seen as a positive, Suarez told reporters in the Bernabeu mixed zone after the game.
“I am very happy to be able to return to play, it is a very big relief and I am very happy that this time is over,” Suarez said. “The sensation is bittersweet for the result, but this team has lifted itself up many times. It is very difficult to play here [at the Bernabeu]. Everyone knows how clasicos are played, the first minutes are very difficult, but football has these things. We lost control after going ahead, and they were very good on the break and killed the game.”
Suarez lasted 67 minutes before being replaced by Pedro Rodriguez, with Madrid in total control of proceedings at that point. He defended Luis Enrique’s decision to start him in such a huge match, despite only having played only a few friendly games during his time out.
“I have been training every day during these weeks, thinking about this game,” Suarez said. “I was fit to play in it. I found out I was playing an hour and a half before the game, during the boss’s pre-game talk.”
The 27-year-old had linked well with his teammates during his time on the pitch, creating a chance for Lionel Messi at 1-0 which the Argentine saw saved by Blancos keeper Iker Casillas, and said he expected the connection to improve over time.
“Neymar and Messi are very good players,” he said. “We know [clasicos] are difficult games. In matches to come we will look to connect more.”
Suarez said he was now hoping to move forward and focus on next weekend’s home game against Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou.
“Now the team must forget about this and think about Celta,” he said.
