Ivan Rakitic‘s fine first-half goal proved enough to give Barcelona a hard-earned 1-0 win over rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu as the LaLiga leaders continued their El Clasico dominance.
Barcelona had completed a 3-0 victory in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday night and never looked like being stretched after Rakitic’s clever chip broke the deadlock after 26 minutes.
Tempers almost boiled over at half-time when Lionel Messi looked to have been caught by a stray arm from Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos.
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There were, though, few clear-cut chances for Real, who are now winless in their last six league games against their rivals.
Barcelona are now 12 points clear of Los Blancos and 10 ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who host Leganes on Sunday.
1/22 Thibaut Courtois 6
Was a little shaky with some of his decision making and hardly installed confidence in the defenders in front of him. May have been able to stand up for a little longer when lobbed by Rakitic.
AFP/Getty Images
2/22 Dani Carvajal 7
Linked up well with Bale but had to be aware of Demebele’s pace and did his best to limit the number of times he was exposed.
AFP/Getty Images
3/22 Raphael Varane 7
Was fairly commanding at the back and did a good job to tidy up when things got a big ugly close to home. Used his pace to keep up with Suarez when he was in on goal and combined with his goalkeeper to produce a superb last-ditch tackle.
AP
4/22 Sergio Ramos 5
Tried to put Messi off of his game with some characteristic fouls and acts of misdemeanours.
AFP/Getty Images
5/22 Sergio Reguilon 6
Was very impressive when going forward and saw a lot of the ball in wide areas. He also seemed to be well-placed when Barcelona attacked.
AFP/Getty Images
6/22 Luka Modric 6
Won back possession and set Madrid on their way a number of times. Did not have a huge part to play in attacking moves in the final third.
AFP/Getty Images
7/22 Casemiro 6
Was responsible for come fine tackles in dangerous areas to prevent Barcelona from causing the defence some serious problems.
AFP/Getty Images
8/22 Toni Kroos 6
Had a couple of shots from range. Drove the ball forward well. Brought off in the second half. Not too much to report on.
AP
9/22 Gareth Bale 5
Hit a free kick over the bar early in the match and did not do an awful lot afterwards. Left the pitch to a loud chorus of boos when he was brought off after an hour.
REUTERS
10/22 Vinicius 7
Very impressive. Very fast. There were some question marks around his ability to score and really influence things in the final third, and these are set to continue. For all the good play in dangerous areas, there was an absence of an end product.
AP
11/22 Karim Benzema 6
Played across the front three and had several half-chances but nothing more.
AP
12/22 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen 7
Good sweeping to stop Vinicius when Real Madrid attempted to get in behind the Barcelona defence. Reacted well when called to make saves from long-range efforts.
AFP/Getty Images
13/22 Sergi Roberto 6
Had a difficult evening against the impressive Vinicius and often relied on other players to help bail him out of awkward situations. Rarely got forward either.
AFP/Getty Images
14/22 Gerard Pique 8
Skinned by Vinicius on a couple of occasions early on but often got his own back with some robust challenges on the youngster. Put in a sensational performance at the heart of a well-organised defence.
AP
15/22 Clement Lenglet 7
Produced some brilliant blocks in the penalty area to keep Madrid at bay.
AFP/Getty Images
16/22 Jordi Alba 6
Did a good job to keep Bale quiet but could have got forward a little more often.
AFP/Getty Images
17/22 Sergio Busquets 6
Got a very early yellow card after being caught in possession, went quiet after.
AP
18/22 Ivan Rakitic 7
Opened the scoring with an excellent chip, one that Messi will have certainly been proud of. A fine performance from the midfielder.
AFP/Getty Images
19/22 Arthur 5
Often fell short of his defensive expectations and left the Barcelona defence a little exposed at times.
AP
20/22 Lionel Messi 7
Almost put Barcelona ahead early with a chip that went just past the post. Was lively throughout and made things happen by dropping deep and producing stunning forward passes to set teammates away.
AFP/Getty Images
21/22 Luis Suarez 6
Was not at his ruthless best with his finishing in the second half and failed to punish Real Madrid when they offered him time and space to pick his spot.
AFP/Getty Images
22/22 Ousmane Dembele 6
He’s fast. Very fast. Dembele’s pace was a cause for concern and he did a good job in getting to the byline and creating chances for teammates.
Getty Images
1/22 Thibaut Courtois 6
Was a little shaky with some of his decision making and hardly installed confidence in the defenders in front of him. May have been able to stand up for a little longer when lobbed by Rakitic.
AFP/Getty Images
2/22 Dani Carvajal 7
Linked up well with Bale but had to be aware of Demebele’s pace and did his best to limit the number of times he was exposed.
AFP/Getty Images
3/22 Raphael Varane 7
Was fairly commanding at the back and did a good job to tidy up when things got a big ugly close to home. Used his pace to keep up with Suarez when he was in on goal and combined with his goalkeeper to produce a superb last-ditch tackle.
AP
4/22 Sergio Ramos 5
Tried to put Messi off of his game with some characteristic fouls and acts of misdemeanours.
AFP/Getty Images
5/22 Sergio Reguilon 6
Was very impressive when going forward and saw a lot of the ball in wide areas. He also seemed to be well-placed when Barcelona attacked.
AFP/Getty Images
6/22 Luka Modric 6
Won back possession and set Madrid on their way a number of times. Did not have a huge part to play in attacking moves in the final third.
AFP/Getty Images
7/22 Casemiro 6
Was responsible for come fine tackles in dangerous areas to prevent Barcelona from causing the defence some serious problems.
AFP/Getty Images
8/22 Toni Kroos 6
Had a couple of shots from range. Drove the ball forward well. Brought off in the second half. Not too much to report on.
AP
9/22 Gareth Bale 5
Hit a free kick over the bar early in the match and did not do an awful lot afterwards. Left the pitch to a loud chorus of boos when he was brought off after an hour.
REUTERS
10/22 Vinicius 7
Very impressive. Very fast. There were some question marks around his ability to score and really influence things in the final third, and these are set to continue. For all the good play in dangerous areas, there was an absence of an end product.
AP
11/22 Karim Benzema 6
Played across the front three and had several half-chances but nothing more.
AP
12/22 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen 7
Good sweeping to stop Vinicius when Real Madrid attempted to get in behind the Barcelona defence. Reacted well when called to make saves from long-range efforts.
AFP/Getty Images
13/22 Sergi Roberto 6
Had a difficult evening against the impressive Vinicius and often relied on other players to help bail him out of awkward situations. Rarely got forward either.
AFP/Getty Images
14/22 Gerard Pique 8
Skinned by Vinicius on a couple of occasions early on but often got his own back with some robust challenges on the youngster. Put in a sensational performance at the heart of a well-organised defence.
AP
15/22 Clement Lenglet 7
Produced some brilliant blocks in the penalty area to keep Madrid at bay.
AFP/Getty Images
16/22 Jordi Alba 6
Did a good job to keep Bale quiet but could have got forward a little more often.
AFP/Getty Images
17/22 Sergio Busquets 6
Got a very early yellow card after being caught in possession, went quiet after.
AP
18/22 Ivan Rakitic 7
Opened the scoring with an excellent chip, one that Messi will have certainly been proud of. A fine performance from the midfielder.
AFP/Getty Images
19/22 Arthur 5
Often fell short of his defensive expectations and left the Barcelona defence a little exposed at times.
AP
20/22 Lionel Messi 7
Almost put Barcelona ahead early with a chip that went just past the post. Was lively throughout and made things happen by dropping deep and producing stunning forward passes to set teammates away.
AFP/Getty Images
21/22 Luis Suarez 6
Was not at his ruthless best with his finishing in the second half and failed to punish Real Madrid when they offered him time and space to pick his spot.
AFP/Getty Images
22/22 Ousmane Dembele 6
He’s fast. Very fast. Dembele’s pace was a cause for concern and he did a good job in getting to the byline and creating chances for teammates.
Getty Images
Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari had recalled Gareth Bale to the starting line-up while Thibaut Courtois returned in goal. Barcelona made one change as Arthur came into midfield.
Bale had an early chance to get the home support back onside with a 25-yard free-kick but could only clip the ball high over the crossbar.
Real threatened again when a deflection took the sting out of Toni Kroos’ shot as it bounced through to Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
At the other end, Courtois was forced into a flying low save to push away a fierce drive from Luis Suarez but the offside flag was up.
Messi then got in behind the Real backline and into the right side of the penalty area before clipping the ball over Courtois, only for Raphael Varane to make a saving block.
New Brazil call-up Vinicius Junior made progress down the Real Madrid left and picked out Karim Benzema. The Frenchman in turn fed Luka Modric, whose low shot was blocked by a sliding challenge from Gerard Pique.
Barca swept into the lead after 26 minutes when Sergi Roberto released Rakitic down the right.
The Croatian kept ahead of Ramos to coolly chip the ball over Courtois and into the far corner.
Los Blancos looked to step things up but could have fallen further behind when Messi’s 25-yard free-kick curled over.
Rakitic then got Suarez away again, the Uruguayan testing Courtois with a drive, and the Belgium keeper was alert to gather Messi’s follow-up.
Just before half-time, Modric sent a header over before tempers flared as Messi tangled with Ramos before appearing to be caught in the face by a trailing arm from the Real Madrid captain.
Referee Alberto Mallenco, though, took no action as the players left the field.
Early in the second half Benzema failed to connect from close range when the ball dropped to him at the far post, with the offside flag sparing the French forward.
Vinicius broke clear down the left before cutting inside and testing Ter Stegen with a curling shot. At the other end, a low cross from Jordi Alba deflected off Dani Carvajal and fell just wide of the far post.
As the hour mark passed Bale was replaced by Marco Asensio, to some jeers from the crowd, as the Wales forward took his place in the dugout.
Ousmane Dembele shot wide when played in by Messi before Isco was sent on to replace Casemiro as Solari made an attacking change for the closing 15 minutes.
Benzema tried his luck from distance late on but Ter Stegen made a comfortable save as Barcelona closed out victory.
PA
