Real Madrid moved top of La Liga with victory over Barcelona in an El Clasico played in torrential rain at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Karim Benzema broke the deadlock with a sublime near-post flick – his ninth goal in his past seven La Liga games.
Real doubled their lead before half-time through Toni Kroos’ deflected free-kick.
Oscar Mingueza pulled one back for Barca before Madrid’s Casemiro was shown a late red card.
The result takes Real level on points with Atletico Madrid and Real go ahead of their city rivals because of their superior head-to-head record.
Atletico, who led La Liga by 10 points as recently as 31 January, can reclaim top spot with victory at Real Betis on Sunday.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Courtois
- 17VázquezSubstituted forOdriozolaat 43′minutes
- 3Militão
- 6NachoBooked at 69mins
- 23Mendy
- 14CasemiroBooked at 90mins
- 15ValverdeSubstituted forAsensioat 61′minutes
- 10Modric
- 8KroosSubstituted forIscoat 72′minutes
- 20VinÃcius JúniorSubstituted forMarceloat 72′minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forMarianoat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 11Asensio
- 12Marcelo
- 13Lunin
- 19Odriozola
- 22Isco
- 24Mariano
- 25Rodrygo
- 26Altube
Barcelona
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1ter Stegen
- 28Mingueza
- 4AraujoBooked at 26minsSubstituted forKourouma Kouroumaat 72′minutes
- 15Lenglet
- 2DestSubstituted forGriezmannat 45′minutes
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forRobertoat 64′minutes
- 21de Jong
- 18AlbaBooked at 84mins
- 10Messi
- 16GonzálezBooked at 23minsSubstituted forMachado Trincãoat 81′minutes
- 11DembéléSubstituted forBraithwaiteat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Piqué
- 7Griezmann
- 8Pjanic
- 9Braithwaite
- 12Puig
- 17Machado Trincão
- 20Roberto
- 23Umtiti
- 24Firpo
- 26Peña
- 27Kourouma Kourouma
- 36Tenas
- Referee:
- Jesús Gil Manzano
Live Text
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Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 1.
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Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 1.
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Attempt missed. Jordi Alba (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Marc-André ter Stegen.
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Attempt missed. Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Attempt blocked. Ilaix Moriba (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Clément Lenglet with a headed pass.
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Ilaix Moriba (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Isco (Real Madrid).
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Attempt missed. Martin Braithwaite (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jordi Alba with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Ilaix Moriba (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ãscar Mingueza.
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Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
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Second yellow card to Casemiro (Real Madrid) for a bad foul.
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Ãscar Mingueza (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
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Casemiro (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
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Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Isco (Real Madrid).
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Jordi Alba (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Isco (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Marco Asensio.
