Reigning team Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-1 in the Clasico to win against their rivals at the top of La Liga on Sunday. Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 12th minute by converting a rebound after Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved Vinicius Junior, and Fede Valverde put in the second from the edge of the box before the break. Ferran Torres pulled one back for Barcelona late on after good work from Ansu Fati, but Rodrygo scored and converted a late penalty to ensure Carlo Ancelotti's side took home Barcelona's first win of the season.

Madrid ended the Catalans' seven-game winning streak in the competition and added to the fresh pain of their struggles in Europe, as they look to exit the Champions League. Barcelona, ​​​​who have spent a lot of time this summer trying to catch up with their rivals, are now three points behind them. The Catalans had conceded just one goal in eight games before the Clasico but they dispatched two goals in the first half, leaving Madrid as the only unbeaten team in the division. "We know that there will be points in the game when we will suffer, because they move the ball well, and that's when each of us will give more, defended well, we did that." Madrid striker Luka Modric told DAZN. . .

"In attacking we were convincing, we scored three goals and I'm happy with our performance, I think we had a great game."

After a disastrous meeting with Inter Milan in midweek that left Barcelona's European hopes hanging by a thread, Xavi made changes including Jules Kounde who returned in place of Gerard Pique. Last season, Barcelona's best season came at the Bernabeu, as Xavi's team claimed a stunning 4-0 win, but this visit has found them at their lowest point since the Spanish champion.

"My feeling now is that we are in a bad situation where nothing is happening for us," Xavi told DAZN. "I can't be happy with anything, the defeat at the Bernabeu 3-1 was bad.

Benzema and money

Vinicius checked in early on down the left flank against Sergi Roberto who couldn't believe it and that was where Madrid's first goal came after 12 minutes. Expert Toni Kroos stopped Sergio Busquets and struck a good pass on the wing, Vinicius left Roberto for dead. Ter Stegen denied the Brazilian striker, but Benzema was on hand to thwart the comeback. The French striker has gone five games without a goal but ended his drought at the big stage, showing his best season yet as he prepares to win the Ballon d'Or in Paris on Monday.

Vinicius was booked for a challenge on Roberto as Barcelona started to score in the game, but another mistake soon took him out of the game. Eric Garcia's poor header found Vinicius in the danger zone and Madrid played on Barcelona's defence, pulling them back to one goal before Ferland Mendy headed past Valverde to head home from the edge. the box.

Madrid continued to push forward after the break and Benzema went in for a third but was ruled out for offside. At the other end, La Liga manager Robert Lewandowski sent a free kick into the wall and appealed for a penalty after Dani Carvajal matched him in the box, but the referee was unimpressed.

Substitute Fati shot wide from outside the box, but Madrid were too comfortable, sitting back and keeping Barcelona at arm's length until Torres struck. Fati's brilliant run and cross for the Spanish striker gave Barcelona life, but Madrid wrapped up the win when Garcia headed Rodrygo in the box and beat Ter Stegen from the spot.

"We are disappointed," Barca defender Kounde told DAZN. "I don't think we had a bad game but in the first half we failed where they were strong, in transition.

"I think the first goal we need to make a mistake to end the fight, the second one is similar. This is the power of one (them). Sometimes they don't have the ball, they suffer and score two goals."