Real Madrid rubbed salt into Barcelona’s Champions League wound, beating them 3-1 in the Clasico and knocking them off top spot in LaLiga.

It’s been a rough week for Xavi – he was assured that his position was safe and assured this season was all about winning the league by president Joan Laporta. That of course meant beating Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu and his team never really came close.

Real Madrid scored from their first galloping attack. Sergio Busquets tried to stop Toni Kroos getting away from him with a foul but the German was stronger and poked the ball forward to Vinicius bursting down the left.

Karim Benzema and Fede Valverde were both on target for Los Blancos as they claimed the top spot in LaLiga

The Brazilian cut inside to shoot and when Marc Andre ter Stegen blocked the ball came out for Benzema who passed it back through the crowded six-yard box and into the net. One Real Madrid attack, one goal.

Barcelona were wobbling now. One Alex Balde clearance from the halfway line almost curled out for a corner. Ter Stegen – who hadn’t conceded in the league since the second game of the season – had to slide into push the ball out for a throw.

Pedri at last made something happen for Barcelona driving forward to play the ball out to Raphinha. He crossed and Lewandowski put the chance over from a yard out. The flag was down although the goal might have gone to VAR. It was at least encouraging for Barcelona but their hopes were soon dashed again.

A long ball forward was inadvertently flicked on by Eric Garcia and the touch played Vinicius through. He kept the ball intelligently before picking his pass to Aurelien Tchouameni who played it wide left to Ferland Mendy. 

The full-back was just as calm in possession. He could have driven the ball into a crowed six-yard box in the hope that Benzema or Vinicius would get the final touch but instead he picked out Fede Valverde on the edge of the penalty area.

Barcelona were slow out to close him down and with his 3rd goal against Barcelona he drilled his shot past Ter Stegen. Two Real Madrid attacks, two goals.

Frenkie de Jong tried to lead the response with a run and shot that won a corner but Barcelona were being comfortably contained by Real Madrid and every Barcelona head was down as they walked off at half time. 

Xavi had work to do. His choice at right-back Sergio Roberto had struggled to deal with Vinicius and the decision to leave out the feisty Gavi had taken more from the team than it had given it.

Nothing changed after the restart with Modric and Vincius combining brilliantly to unleash Benzema down the right. He lashed it past Ter Stegen and celebrated effusively before finally realizing the flag had been correctly raised.

There were ‘Oles!’ from the Santiago Bernabeu as Madrid started to ping the passes around their pedestrian opponents. A minute short of the hour Xavi took off Busquets, Balde and Raphinha and put on Gavi, Jordi Alba and Ferran Torres.

The ‘Oles!’ were a little over the top but there is a gulf between the two teams. Madrid brought Tchouameni in the summer while Barcelona, for all the money they spent, opted not to sign a replacement for Busquets.

Tchouameni did bring down Ousmane Dembele on the edge of the area. Lewandowski hit the free-kick straight into the Real Madrid wall and Xavi made his next change with Ansu Fati replacing Dembele.

Lewandowski then went down in the area but his penalty appeal was waved away by the referee who then booked Luka Modric for a foul on Pedri.

Madrid’s number 10 made way for Eduardo Camavinga moments later and the ovation was huge from the Santiago Bernabeu. Barça’s number 10 Fati flashed a shot wide and Lewandowski scuffed his shot when connecting with Torres’ cross.

Torres was at the end of a move on 82 minutes and it was Barcelona’s first goal of the game. Gavi won it in midfield and played it out to Fati. His cross was converted by the former Manchester City forward at the far post.

Fati might have equalized with Barcelona’s next attack but his volley went wide from De Jong’s cross. Optimistic Barcelona supporters might have sensed an unlikely draw. But when Eric Garcia brought down substitute Rodrygo Goes and VAR spotted the foul the Brazilian slotted his kick past Ter Stegen.

Barça’s German keeper had only been beaten once all season in the league before the game – now he had let in three and with three points Madrid were top of table. Xavi had lost the Clasico, the league lead, and almost certainly Barcelona’s Champions League place in the space of just five days.

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