Barcelona in a captivating game at the Bernabeu.
Luis Suarez started for Barcelona after a four-month ban for biting
and set up Neymar to arrow in the opener.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi spurned a glorious chance before Cristiano
Ronaldo equalised with a penalty.
A powerful header from Pepe put Real ahead before they added to their
lead when Karim Benzema finished a brilliant counter-attack with an
angled shot.
The Real fans roared their approval at the end as as the home side
came out on top in a match-up between two of the world's most
star-studded line-ups.
Real's celebrations following the 229th meeting between the two were
also heightened with the victory helping them close the gap to one
point on La Liga leaders Barcelona.
The visitors may have taken the lead but were ultimately disappointing
as they failed to match the greater cutting edge in attack and
solidity in defence of the home side as they suffered their first
league defeat of the season.
A game between these two Spanish giants is usually one to savour and
it was even more so this time considering the array of talent on show.
Real had the likes of Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Benzema, while
Barcelona had Messi, Neymar and Suarez in the opposition camp.
Suarez starting added to the spectacle as he played for the first time
since his ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World
Cup came to an end.
The Uruguayan made an immediate impact when his crossfield pass found
Neymar, and the Brazilian cut in from the left and curled in a low
shot for the opener.
Barcelona forward Neymar scored his ninth goal of the campaign with
his effort against Real Madrid
The goal only served to spark Real into action during a fast and
furious opening. Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo had not conceded a
goal in his side's eight league games prior to the match and had to be
at his best to keep his run going.
He got a left palm to a Benzema effort before the Real Madrid forward
thumped a header from Ronaldo's cross against the woodwork and smashed
the rebound wide.
The game was living up to the hype and Barcelona should have added to
their lead when Suarez sent in a low cross for Messi only for the
Argentine to uncharacteristically sidefoot wide from close range.
However, Real were level when Gerard Pique handled a low Marcelo cross
and Ronaldo dispatched the penalty to score his 16th league goal of
the campaign.
The home side started the second half brightly and their pressure
eventually broke a vulnerable Barcelona defence when Pepe powered in a
header from a corner.
The goal gave the Los Blancos a firm grip of the game as they sat back
and comfortably soaked up Barcelona's pressure, while continually
hitting the Catalan club on the break.
And, when Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta lost possession on the
halfway line, Real lethally struck for their third. Isco, Ronaldo and
Rodriguez combined before the latter slid a pass through to Benzema,
who angled in a precise shot.
--BBC
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