BEVERLY HILLS, October 29, (THEWILL) – Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed a beleaguered Real Madrid 5-1 at the Camp Nou on Sunday to go top of La Liga and pile the pressure on Real coach Julen Lopetegui.
Without the injured Lionel Messi, Barca ran riot with Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal also scoring, as Ernesto Valverde’s men pulled seven points clear of ninth-placed Real in the table.
The capital-city side have now failed to win their last five league games.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s 11-match winning run came to a dramatic end as Luka Milivojevic’s late penalty rescued Crystal Palace in a contentious 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Unai Emery’s side failed to win a 12th successive match in all competitions as they fell short of the club’s record of 14 victories in a row.
Arsenal fell behind to the first of two Milivojevic penalties just before half-time at Selhurst Park.
Granit Xhaka equalised with a sublime free-kick before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang poked in his ninth goal of the season in controversial circumstances.
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette flicked the ball to Aubameyang with his hand, but officials failed to spot the offence.
Angered by that blow, Palace felt justice was done when Wilfried Zaha won a second penalty with seven minutes left and Milivojevic slotted home again.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Emery, whose captain Mesut Ozil reacted angrily when he was substituted in the 68th minute, the German throwing his gloves to the floor after stomping past the Arsenal manager.
It was the latest flare-up between the pair after Ozil was reportedly angered by Emery’s demand that he work harder in matches earlier this season.
Arsenal remain fourth in the Premier League, but missed the chance to keep pace with leaders Liverpool, who are four points clear of the north Londoners.
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