Neymar, Messi and Suarez Need to Offer More If Barcelona Are to Challenge Real

Barcelona have been waiting for months to see their Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar front line, but for the most part it fell flat against Real Madrid on Saturday night.

Things started off so well, with Suarez pinging a ball across from right to left, landing at the feet of Neymar.

The Brazilian cut inside from his flank and fired into the bottom right corner, past the helpless Iker Casillas.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

It looked like Luis Enrique and Barcelona's dream start to La Liga was set to continue, but Real Madrid had other ideas. They immediately went on the attack themselves and the Catalans' brittle defence crumbled away, eventually resulting in a 3-1 home victory. 

Despite the clean sheet record that had seen them concede precisely no goals in La Liga before El Clasico, nobody was pretending that Barcelona have fixed all of their defensive problems.

It was still obvious that, although the back line has improved from Tata Martino's time, the attack needs to compensate for the defensive deficiencies. On this occasion, at the Santiago Bernabeu, they did not.

Paul White/Associated Press

Before the game, everyone was wondering if Messi would score the two goals he needed to equal Athletic Bilbao legend Telmo Zarra's all-time La Liga record.

What summed up Messi's display was the free-kick he took in the dregs of stoppage time, which he spewed over the crossbar.

He had one clear chance in the game, from only a few yards out, but missed the target from close range with Iker Casillas' goal gaping. Jaws dropped.

The Argentine has enjoyed an excellent season and one poor performance doesn't change that, although for it to come in this game will be painful for him to accept. When he eventually does crack that record, it won't be quite as sweet.

Neymar, on the other hand, looked set to continue his barnstorming season. He was brimming with confidence at the start, but as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric began to dominate Sergio Busquets, Xavi and the uncharacteristically abysmal Andres Iniesta, Neymar faded out of the game.

Until today, Neymar hadn't made his mark for Barcelona in a really, really big game. He had a chance to equalise in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid last season, but hit the post.

He needed to kick on after his goal and be a dominant force, but for the most part Dani Carvajal handled the Brazilian well. Neymar went in the book for a foul on the Spanish full-back.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

Suarez was probably, despite this being his first competitive game for four months, the best of the three.

He was taken off by Enrique in the second half for Pedro, which was a surprise. Understandable, certainly, because of his lesser fitness level, but given the danger he had been posing it was a poor decision.

One superb turn near the half-way line cut Real Madrid wide open and when Suarez received a return ball from Neymar he was harshly penalised by the referee for an alleged infringement on Sergio Ramos.

Paul White/Associated Press

Of course this is only their first game together. Of course they will come good. How could they not?

But Messi will be furious with his performance, Neymar frustrated, and Suarez probably the same, although more at the result than his own exertions.

In general this season, Barcelona have looked better than Real Madrid. But when the two teams went head-to-head here, there was only one winner and they deserved it.

If Barcelona are to challenge Real when the two teams meet, then the strike force needs to offer a lot more.

Next time around, the likes of Iniesta and Xavi won't be this ineffective and the defence may be better organised, but one thing's for certain—players with the quality of Messi, Suarez and Neymar won't allow themselves to be kept this quiet.