Published : Oct. 26, 2014 - 20:38
Real Madrid’s Pepe (third from left) celebrates his goal against Barcelona on Saturday. (AP-Yonhap)
Luis Suarez set up Neymar’s fourth-minute goal in the Uruguayan forward’s first competitive debut for Barcelona following a four-month biting ban, but Real Madrid rallied to beat Barcelona 3-1 Saturday night in the first “clasico” of the season.
On a subdued night for Barca star Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo started Real’s comeback in the 35th minute when he converted a penalty kick for his 21st goal of the season in all competitions. The penalty kick was awarded after sliding defender Gerard Pique stopped Marcelo’s cross with an arm.
Pepe headed in Toni Kroos’ corner kick in the 50th minute and Karim Benzema, who had already hit the crossbar and a post in the first half, scored in the 61st off a pass from James Rodriguez.
Real Madrid (7-2) pulled within one point of league-leading Barcelona (7-1-1), which had outscored opponents 22-0 in its first eight La Liga matches.
Suarez, signed from Liverpool last summer, played 69 minutes in his first competitive game since a four-month suspension imposed for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup game.
“I don’t regret that he started,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “He did more than I expected him to do, and I substituted him for fitness reasons.”
Also, Manchester City and Liverpool stumbled following Champions League setbacks.
Defending champion City was stunned 2-1 at fourth-place West Ham (5-3-1), which took a two-goal lead when Morgan Amalfitano scored in the 21st minute and Diafra Sakho in the 75th. David Silva had a 77th-minute goal for City (5-2-2), which dropped into third place, five points behind Premier League leader Chelsea (7-0-1).
Southampton (6-2-1) moved into second, following its 8-0 rout of Sunderland with a 1-0 win over Stoke on Sadio Mane’s 33rd-minute goal, his first for the club. American Geoff Cameron made his first Premier League start of the season for Stoke, playing in the midfield.
Liverpool (4-3-2) is seventh following a 0-0 tie at home against Hull.
Alexis Sanchez scored twice for fifth-place Arsenal (3-1-5) in a 2-0 victory at Sunderland. American forward Jozy Altidore entered in 74th minute for the Black Cats in first Premier League appearance this season.
Leverkusen’s Son Heung-min (right) and Schalke’s Benedikt Hoewedes vie for the ball on Saturday. (AFP-Yonhap)
Wilfried Bony scored twice in Swansea’s 2-0 win over Leicester.
Borussia Dortmund (2-6-1) loss its fourth straight league game and is a 15th place following a 1-0 loss to visiting Hannover. Hiroshi Kiyotake scored on a free kick over the defensive wall in the 61st minute.
Hertha Berlin routed visiting Hamburg 3-0 as American defender John Brooks entered in the 84th minute for the hosts. American winger Julian Green replaced Rafael van der Vaart in the 64th minute for the visitors.
Hoffenheim (4-0-5) beat promoted Paderborn 1-0 to move into second place, three points behind defending champion Bayern Munich (6-0-2).
Stuttgart won 5-4 at Eintracht Frankfurt and Augsburg defeated Freiburg 2-0.
Roma tied 0-0 at third-place Sampdoria (4-0-4), which moved within three points of the Serie A coleaders.
Gervinho hit a post in the first half for Roma (6-1-1), which is tied with defending champion Juventus (6-0-1) at 19 points. Juventus hosts Palermo on Sunday. (AP)