Football La-Liga La-Liga Clasico thrashing without Messi a 'great achievement', says Busquets Barcelona's thrashing of Real Madrid without Lionel Messi impressed midfielder Sergio Busquets. Dejan Kalinic 29 October, 2018 11:45 IST Barcelona celebrates Luis Suarez's goal against Real Madrid. - Getty Images Dejan Kalinic 29 October, 2018 11:45 IST Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets described his team's 5-1 El Clasico win without Lionel Messi as a "great achievement".Luis Suarez stepped up in the absence of Messi, who is recovering from a broken arm, to score a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday.RELATED | Suarez treble downs Lopetegui's menPhilippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal were also on the scoresheet as under-fire Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui was put under further pressure.Delivering such a result without their superstar Messi was massive for Barca, according to Busquets."It's a great achievement to win 5-1 without Messi," he told the club's website."Normally, when we have trouble, Leo helps us out but today the team stepped up."Marcelo's 50th-minute goal brought Madrid back to 2-1, but Barca struck three times in the final quarter of an hour. Give me pic.twitter.com/wClG6dWjTi— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 28, 2018 Busquets said his team knew it would get its opportunities as Madrid pushed for a way back into the game.He said: "We knew that if we get through their pressure then we would have chances and then the counters came and the goals gave us a cushion."While Barca are only a point clear atop LaLiga, they sit seven ahead of ninth-placed rival Madrid. Read more stories on La-Liga. For more updates, follow Sportstar on :
Sergio Busquets Philippe Coutinho Real Madrid Barcelona Luis Suarez Arturo Vidal Lionel Messi La Liga