Match ends, Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1.
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
- From the section European Football
Barcelona opened up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga by overcoming rivals Real Madrid at the Nou Camp.
Neymar's low finish and a sublime chip by Alexis Sanchez sent Real to a second defeat in four league games.
Brazil forward Neymar beat Diego Lopez with a right-foot finish before Sanchez settled the game with a 20-yard chip.
Real's Karim Benzema hit the bar before fellow substitute Jese Rodriguez scored a consolation in stoppage time after a strong run by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gareth Bale started but has still to complete a full 90 minutes for Real in La Liga after being substituted on the hour.
The 24-year-old Wales international, a world record £85m signing from Tottenham last month, rarely threatened in his forward role and was booked for a foul on Barca defender Gerard Pique, one of seven cautions in a fiercely contested game.
Instead it was Barca's Neymar, who cost £36m less than Bale, who took centre stage. His third La Liga goal in 10 appearances settled a tense game that failed to live up to its billing as the most anticipated fixture in the world.
Real, now six points behind Barca 10 games into the season, did not come alive until after the interval.
By then the hosts had established the lead, Neymar's composed finish rounding off a free-flowing move involving Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta.
Lionel Messi should have doubled the lead two minutes later but fired wide after sloppy play in the Real defence.
It said much about Real's performance that their first chance of the half did not arrive until the 44th minute, Valdes denying Germany midfielder Sami Khedira from close range with his knee.
Valdes again came to his side's rescue after Iniesta lost possession and Luka Modric carved out an opening for Ronaldo.
But after Benzema's terrific strike rattled the Barca bar in the 72nd minute and Ronaldo had a penalty appeal waved away after a challenge by Javier Mascherano, Real were undone by a moment of pure brilliance by substitute Sanchez.
The Chile international beat Lopez, who was standing off his line, from 20 yards with a perfect chip 12 minutes from time.
Real did find the net in stoppage time, Rodriguez firing home after being set up by Ronaldo.
But that failed to take the gloss off Barca's victory, their first over Real in four attempts in La Liga.
Line-ups
Barcelona
- 1Valdés
- 22Alves da Silva
- 14Mascherano
- 3Piqué
- 21Correia ClaroBooked at 35mins
- 6Hernández
- 16BusquetsBooked at 7mins
- 8IniestaSubstituted forSongat 77'minutes
- 10Messi
- 4FàbregasSubstituted forSánchezat 70'minutes
- 11NeymarSubstituted forPedroat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Montoya
- 5Puyol
- 7Pedro
- 9Sánchez
- 13Pinto Colorado
- 17Song
- 24Roberto
Real Madrid
- 25López
- 15Carvajal
- 2Varane
- 3Pepe
- 12MarceloBooked at 64mins
- 6KhediraBooked at 59mins
- 4RamosBooked at 14minsSubstituted forIllarramendiat 56'minutes
- 19Modric
- 22Di MaríaSubstituted forRodríguez Ruizat 76'minutes
- 11BaleBooked at 45minsSubstituted forBenzemaat 61'minutes
- 7Cristiano RonaldoBooked at 80mins
Substitutes
- 1Casillas
- 5da Silva Coentrão
- 9Benzema
- 17Arbeloa
- 20Rodríguez Ruiz
- 23Isco
- 24Illarramendi
- Referee:
- Alberto Undiano Mallenco
- Attendance:
- 98,761
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamReal Madrid
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away16
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Luka Modric.
Attempt blocked. Dani Alves (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Pedro (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1. Jesé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo following a fast break.
Foul by Alexis Sánchez (Barcelona).
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Adriano (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Pedro (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Asier Illarramendi (Real Madrid).
Attempt saved. Sami Khedira (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Pedro replaces Neymar.
Foul by Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
Asier Illarramendi (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Dani Alves (Barcelona) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt missed. Pepe (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Alexandre Song.
Booking
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 0. Alexis Sánchez (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Neymar with a through ball following a fast break.
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Alexandre Song replaces Andrés Iniesta.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Jesé replaces Ángel Di María.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Pepe.
Attempt blocked. Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Neymar.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Asier Illarramendi.
Foul by Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona).
Asier Illarramendi (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Xavi.
Attempt saved. Sami Khedira (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Luka Modric.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Alexis Sánchez replaces Francesc Fábregas.
Adriano (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.