Real Madrid 3 Barcelona 1 LIVE RESULT: Benzema, Valverde and Rodrygo inspire Los Blancos to El Clasico win – updates
REAL MADRID conquered Barcelona once again to win all three points in the El Clasico.
Goals from Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde put Los Blancos into a commanding lead.
And Rodrygo's late penalty wiped out Ferran Torres' 83rd minute strike.
- RESULT: Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid
- Live stream:
- TV channel: Premier Sports 1
- Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius
- Barca XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Kounde, Garcia, Balde; de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembele
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That's all from El Clasico
Our coverage of this afternoon's El Clasico has come to an end.
Real Madrid are back on top of the table, and Barcelona are back in 'crisis'.
Both scenarios are likely to change again before the sides next meet in March, but for now LaLiga belongs to the white of Los Blancos.
Thanks for joining us, and goodbye.
Terrific Toni revels in midfield
Toni Kroos, alongside his fellow veteran Luka Modric, produced another midfield masterclass as Real Madrid took the honours in the season's first Clasico.
The 32-year-old German was the heartbeat for Los Blancos, particularly in the first half, and was instrumental in the build-up to his side's opening goal.
Modric hails outstanding Real performance
Luka Modric paid tribute to the Real Madrid fans and to his teammates as they celebrated victory in El Clasico.
The Croatian admitted that they were required to work hard for long spells of the game given Barca's ability on the ball, but produced moments of magic when they mattered.
Of course we're happy! We're happy with the win and we're happy with the performance. We want to thank our fans for the incredible atmosphere they created. We knew there would be periods where we would have to suffer because they keep the ball so well. In those moments, we had to stand firm and we had to defend. Later, we were clinical up front and scored three times. Sincerely, I thought we played outstandingly.
Luka Modric
Kounde: We need to learn
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde insists that his team must learn from the disappointment of today's Clasico.
Speaking at full time, the French star admitted that Barca needed to be more clinical in front of goal to take advantage of the spells in the game where they dominate.
We're really disappointed. I don't think we played badly, but in the first half we made mistakes in the transitions and the areas in which Real Madrid are strongest. Their goals came when we appeared strongest, but that's their strength. Sometimes without the ball, they look like they're suffering but in two or three passes they create a chance. We need to learn from today and be more clinical.
Jules Kounde
Match stats from the Bernabeu
Barcelona had more of the ball, completed more passes and had more than double the amount of shots on goal than their rivals did, but were beaten by a Real Madrid masterclass out of possession.
Full time - Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona
It's all over! Real Madrid emerge as winners in the first El Clasico of the season, remain unbeaten, and head back to the top of the table at the expense of the Catalonian rivals.
First half goals from Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde had Los Blancos in full control until Barcelona substitutes Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres combined with seven minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish.
However, a late penalty, won and scored by one of Real's own subs - Rodrygo - ensured a crucial three points stayed in the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona
90+1. Rodrygo makes no mistake from the spot, and Real Madrid claim El Clasico!
The Brazilian steps up and slams his penalty into the bottom right corner and, although Marc-Andre ter Stegen goes the right way and gets a hand to it, he cannot keep it out.
The champions are going back to the top of LaLiga, and will take all of the bragging rights against their old rivals.
VAR Review - Penalty to Real Madrid
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
90. On the break, Eric Garcia brings down Rodrygo in the box but Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez says no penalty.
However, VAR have taken another look, and now advise the referee to consult his original decision on the pitchside monitor.
Replays show that the former Man City centre-back stepped on the foot of the Real attacker, who made the most of the contact.
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona - Real Madrid substitution
88. A double change for the hosts.
Marcos Asensio and Antonio Rudiger are on for Karim Benzema and Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
87. Almost! Almost an equaliser!
De Jong's chipped cross into the box is missed by Roberto, but Mendy's slack clearance falls for Fati.
The sub makes a connection as he falls, but it's not perfect and rolls agonisingly wide with Lunin beaten.
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
85. Barca are suddenly like a new team.
They believe they can rescue something from this Clasico.
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
83. It's not over yet!
With seven minutes remaining, Barcelona have renewed hope - and it's a goal made and scored by one of Xavi's substitutes.
Ansu Fati does brilliantly to beat two opponents and speed down the left before whipping a low cross into the danger area.
Robert Lewandowski gets a slight touch on the delivery that takes it away from those in white, and towards Ferran Torres at the far post, who converts from close range.
Game on at the Bernabeu!
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona - Gavi yellow card
81. There we go!
Barcelona's talented but overly physical teenager goes into the book for a completely unnecessary slide on Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
80. Ten minutes to go.
Have Real Madrid done enough to take themselves back to the top of LaLiga?
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
78. Fati takes aim from long range! Just wide!
The 19-year-old sub almost pulls one back in spectacular fashion but his low curler - similar to Valverde's strike in the first half - flies a yard past the post.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona - Modric yellow card
75. Modric goes into the book for tripping Gavi.
Come on, ref, it's just an old boy keeping a teenager in check.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
74. Lewandowski goes does in the box...no penalty!!
The Barca striker appeared to be sandwiched by Carvajal and Alaba as he moved inside from the left, but referee Jose María Sanchez Martinez was on the scene to wave appeals away.
On the touchline, Xavi is furious. He may have a point, but Lewandowski didn't help himself by going down very easily.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona - Barcelona substitution
73. Xavi makes another change, introducing Ansu Fati for Ousmane Dembele.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
72. Lewandowski takes charge and curls a shot straight into the wall.
The hosts quickly break, and it's only a cynical pull back from Alba that denies Kroos a run up the touchline.
The left-back somehow escapes a yellow card.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
71. Tchouameni sticks out a needless foot, and brings Dembele down 20 yards from goal.
It's a free-kick to the Catalans in a very dangerous position.
They haven't scored a direct free-kick since Lionel Messi was at the club. Could this be when that record comes to an end?
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
69. Lewandowski gets his head on to a cross, but the effort loops softly up for Lunin to claim.
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
67. A couple of half chances in quick succession for Real.
First, a Vinicius Junior curler is blocked, and then Garcia does extremely well to see off Benzema's run following a typically clever through pass from Modric.