In what could be called as the first El Classico that did not constitute flooded stadiums and intense chants, Real Madrid punished a lousy Barcelona side 3-1 to claim the top spot on the La Liga table.

An attacking line boasting the names of Argentine talisman Lionel Messi and a young Ansu Fati backed by the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in the midfield slept throughout the second half as Barcelona suffered their second loss of the season. Shakhtar Donetsk and Cadiz were able to defeat a lackluster Los Blancos team, but Ronald Koeman and his might failed miserably. Goals by Ramos, Valverde and then Modric sealed the game for Real Madrid as they celebrated their first win at Camp Nou since 2016.

The story of the game started with Valverde registering his name in the goal book at the fifth minute. However, Jordi Alba and Ansu Fati made sure the visitors didn’t get an outright advantage as the latter tapped the ball past Courtois. However, that was the best the Catalan giants could do, as the second half just saw Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric finish the game. The Real Madrid skipper’s penalty did come via the VAR road casting some doubts after his hugely exaggerated fall when Clement Lenglet tugged his shirt, but Barcelona’s body language had already given up on the match by then.

Apart from Lionel Messi who kept creating chances, threatening a solo show, no other player from both sides pushed hard enough. In fact, Ronald Koeman’s efforts to induce some freshness in the line-up came only after the 80th minute.

Messi who was booked during the stoppage time looked frustrated and angry. With every loss piling at Camp Nou’s back, the Argentine’s transfer away from the club seems more probable. Real Madrid now sit six points clear of the 12th placed Barcelona.

Ronald Koeman and company face Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League, without the suspended Gerard Pique. The clash may witness Cristiano Ronaldo, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and Lionel Messi go head-to-head.