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Rediff.com  » Sports » La Liga: Real fight back to take 'Clasico' spoils against Barca

La Liga: Real fight back to take 'Clasico' spoils against Barca

October 25, 2014 23:58 IST
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Real Madrid, Barcelona

Lionel Messi, second right, of FC Barcelona reacts as Real madrid CF players Cristiano Ronaldo, right, Francisco Roman Alarcon (Isco) and Marcelo walk on after celebrating. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Real Madrid trimmed Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to one point when they recovered from conceding an early goal to secure a stirring 3-1 comeback win in the 'Clasico' on Saturday.

Neymar stunned a packed and hostile Bernabeu with a superb goal to give Barca a fourth-minute lead before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled with a penalty in the 35th, the first goal the Catalan side had conceded in nine league outings this term.

Pepe of Real Madrid CF celebrates with James Rodriguez

Pepe of Real Madrid CF celebrates with James Rodriguez after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Pepe made it 2-1 six minutes into the second half and a misunderstanding between Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano led to Real's third just after the hour when Karim Benzema finished off a swift break with a clinical strike.

Barca are top with 22 points with Real, who had an early-season wobble but have been in scintillating form in recent weeks, second on 21. Sevilla, who host Villarreal on Sunday, are third with 19.

Pepe of Real Madrid CF scores

Pepe of Real Madrid CF scores during the La Liga match against FC Barcelona. Photograp: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

There was no dream return for Luis Suarez, making his Barca debut after a four-month ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup.

The Uruguay forward looked reasonably sharp and had a hand in Neymar's goal but did not come close to scoring himself before being replaced by Pedro midway through the second half.

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Source: REUTERS
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