Barcelona went four points clear at the top of La Liga after beating Real Madrid 2-1 in El Clasico at the Camp Nou.
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In a particularly ill disciplined game with both sides receiving numerous yellow cards, Luis Suarez scored the decisive goal for La Blaugrana in the second half after the unlikely Jeremy Mathieu opened the scoring for Barca before Real hit back on the half hour mark through Cristiano Ronaldo.
The win means with just ten games remaining Barcelona are surely favourites for La Liga.
See how we rated Luis Enrique’s side below:
GK: Claudio Bravo – 7
Made a key save early in the second half that could have given Real a lead before Barca restored their advantage through Suarez and managed an even greater stop late on somehow managing to punch away a double deflected shot.
Couldn’t do anything for the first with Ronaldo granted all the time in the world to poke the ball pass him.
Bravo for Bravo.
RB: Dani Alves – 6
Even he wouldn’t have thought his raking ball would have provided Suarez the chance it did for Barca’s second but will be happy to have contributed in what could be his last Clasico.
CB: Gerard Pique – 7
His usual calm and collected self in the heart of the Barcelona defence and was only beaten for the first goal by some outrageous skill from Benzema.
CB: Jeremy Mathieu – 7
The unlikeliest of opening scorers and coincidently it was his first goal for Barcelona in La Liga.
Was solid at the back and hardly let Real have a sniff.
LB: Jordi Alba – 6
It was a quiet game on the attacking front for Alba but you’d expect that when against the B-B-C frontline of Real Madrid.
But even with this threat he still managed one incredible burt forward towards the end of the game but his toe poked shot was pushed away by Casillas.
CM: Javier Mascherano – 6
Beyond cynical when Ronaldo slightly brushed him with his leg, rolling about the turf and trying to get a booking for the Real man.
He was typically solid in the middle but his antics leave a foul taste in the mouth.
RM: Ivan Rakitic – 5
Got a standing ovation when he was taken off in the second half as Barcelona looked to secure the win by bringing on Sergio Busquets.
Wasn’t his most involved game but kept the ball moving forward and set off a number of Barca attacks.
LM: Andres Iniesta – 5
The calm metronome in the Barcelona middle, kept the play ticking over and starting Barca’s moves from deep a dutiful performance even if there was no stand-out moment.
RW: Lionel Messi – 6
Real certainly did a job on him with Messi hardly getting any opportunities to show his flair.
Still he managed an assist for Mathieu’s opener and a mazy run in the second half deserved a goal but agonisingly saw his shot go inches wide.
CF: Luis Suarez – 8
Glorious goal for the Uruguayan who somehow took a raking pass from Alves in his stride and bamboozle Iker Casillas to slot it in the bottom corner.
Was again decisive late on with some great defensive work on set-plays to keep Real at bay.
LW: Neymar – 5
His missed chance at 1-0 for Barcelona could have been decisive had Suarez not produced a bit of magic to restore the lead.
Didn’t have his shooting boots on today and has to be more ruthless when he’s given a chance on another day his lack of cutting edge could cost the Blaugrana.