Cristiano Ronaldo Stuns Messi and Barcelona as Madrid Close on Title
Real Madrid moved seven points clear at the top of La Liga after winning the El Clasico at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Some poor defending in the box by Barcelona allowed Sami Khedira to open the scoring just after a quarter of an hour. Substitute Alexis Sanchez levelled it for Barca through a scrappy effort in the 70<sup>th minute, seconds after coming on. However, Cristiano Ronaldo put Los Blancos back in front with a stunning goal two minutes later and Madrid held on for a priceless victory.
Real began the game well and nearly went ahead when Ronaldo connected with a Mesut Ozil corner and forced a good save out of Victor Valdes. The visitors continued to threaten from set pieces and were finally rewarded in the 17<sup>th minute when Pepe headed a corner towards the goal which Valdes pushed out. The ball fell in the area, Carlos Puyol failed in clearing the danger and Khedira stabbed it home from close range.
Barca slowly got into the game and their neat interplay should have got them a goal when Lionel Messi released Xavi Hernandez for a one-on-one chance but the Spaniard pulled his shot wide.
As the half progressed conditions became tougher due to the downpour. The Catalans maintained their dominance in possession but failed to register a shot on target before the break as Real went in leading by a goal.
Barca had a chance to equalise early on in the second half but this time youngster Cristian Tello sent his shot high and wide after being put through by Thiago Alcantara.
Pep Guardiola's side kept the high-tempo pressing and found their equaliser in the 70<sup>th minute when substitute Alexis Sanchez bundled home after a scramble in the six-yard box. However, the hosts weren't level for long as a few moments later Ozil found Ronaldo and the Portuguese hitman came bursting down the right to jink it over Valdes from a narrow angle for a classy goal - his 42<sup>nd of the season and Real's 109<sup>th - a new La Liga record.
Barca kept pushing to find a leveller for the second time but some strong defending by the Los Blancos denied Catalan talisman Messi any possession near the area and Madrid managed to hold on for all three points.
This is the first time Real have beaten Barcelona, in the league, since Pep Guardiola took charge of the Catalans and it has, in all probability, dealt a fatal blow to Barca's hopes of a fourth successive Primera Division title as Mourinho's men have cemented their position at La Liga's summit with four games remaining.
Meanwhile, both sides have a one goal deficit to overcome in their Champions League semi-final second-leg matches in midweek. Barca host Chelsea on Tuesday, while Real host Bayern Munich the following day.
Check out some of the best moments of the match here:
![Barcelona039s Lionel Messi greets Real Madrid039s Ronaldo before their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match Barcelona039s Lionel Messi greets Real Madrid039s Ronaldo before their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265780/barcelona039s-lionel-messi-greets-real-madrid039s-ronaldo-before-their-spanish-first-division.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Cristiano Ronaldo tries to get past Barcelona039s Puyol during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona Real Madrid039s Cristiano Ronaldo tries to get past Barcelona039s Puyol during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265781/real-madrid039s-cristiano-ronaldo-tries-get-past-barcelona039s-puyol-during-their-spanish.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Ronaldo kicks the ball surrounded by Barcelona039s Alexis, Alves and Puyol during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match in Barcelona Real Madrid039s Ronaldo kicks the ball surrounded by Barcelona039s Alexis, Alves and Puyol during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265782/real-madrid039s-ronaldo-kicks-ball-surrounded-barcelona039s-alexis-alves-puyol-during.jpg)
![Barcelona039s Messi is challenged by Real Madrid039s Pepe, Coentrao and Ramos during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match in Barcelona Barcelona039s Messi is challenged by Real Madrid039s Pepe, Coentrao and Ramos during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265783/barcelona039s-messi-challenged-real-madrid039s-pepe-coentrao-ramos-during-their-spanish.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Khedira scores a goal agaisnt Barcelona during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match Real Madrid039s Khedira scores a goal agaisnt Barcelona during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265784/real-madrid039s-khedira-scores-goal-agaisnt-barcelona-during-their-spanish-first-division.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Khedira celebrates after scoring against Barcelona during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona Real Madrid039s Khedira celebrates after scoring against Barcelona during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265785/real-madrid039s-khedira-celebrates-after-scoring-against-barcelona-during-their-spanish-first.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Ronaldo heads the ball surrounded by Barcelona039s Thiago, Mascherano and Puyol during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match in Barcelona Real Madrid039s Ronaldo heads the ball surrounded by Barcelona039s Thiago, Mascherano and Puyol during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265786/real-madrid039s-ronaldo-heads-ball-surrounded-barcelona039s-thiago-mascherano-puyol.jpg)
![Barcelona039s Alexis celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid during their Spanish first division soccer match against Real Madrid in Barcelona Barcelona039s Alexis celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid during their Spanish first division soccer match against Real Madrid in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265787/barcelona039s-alexis-celebrates-after-scoring-against-real-madrid-during-their-spanish-first.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s coach Mourinho gestures next to Barcelona039s cocah Guardiola during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona Real Madrid039s coach Mourinho gestures next to Barcelona039s cocah Guardiola during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265788/real-madrid039s-coach-mourinho-gestures-next-barcelona039s-cocah-guardiola-during-their.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Ronaldo scores a goal past Barcelona039s Valdes during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match Real Madrid039s Ronaldo scores a goal past Barcelona039s Valdes during their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265789/real-madrid039s-ronaldo-scores-goal-past-barcelona039s-valdes-during-their-spanish-first.jpg)
![Real Madrid039s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Barcelona during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona Real Madrid039s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Barcelona during their Spanish first division soccer match in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265790/real-madrid039s-cristiano-ronaldo-celebrates-after-scoring-against-barcelona-during-their.jpg)
![Real Madrids players celebrate victory over Barcelona at the end of their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match Real Madrids players celebrate victory over Barcelona at the end of their Spanish first division quotEl Clasicoquot soccer match](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265791/real-madrids-players-celebrate-victory-over-barcelona-end-their-spanish-first-division-quotel.jpg)
![Barcelona039s Messi walks off the pitch at the end of their Spanish first division soccer match against Real Madrid in Barcelona Barcelona039s Messi walks off the pitch at the end of their Spanish first division soccer match against Real Madrid in Barcelona](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/265792/barcelona039s-messi-walks-off-pitch-end-their-spanish-first-division-soccer-match-against.jpg)
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