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The game that was supposed to signal the power shift in Spain and showcase the growing strength of the capital club instead had a very familiar theme. Barcelona once gain proved that they are the benchmark in the La Liga with a 3-1 triumph and despite the strides Real Madrid have made this season, they came up short against the Champions. The night began brightly for Madrid as they took the lead 23 seconds into the derby, with Karim Benzema tapping in from close range following a horrible Victor Valdes clearance. But Barcelona hit-back in some style, levelling on the half-hour mark through Alexis Sanchez before Xavi Hernandez made it 2-1 eight minutes after the break. Cristiano Ronaldo was twice guilty of missing gilt-edged chances and Madrid paid the ultimate price as Barca extended their lead on 66 minutes through Cesc Fabregas. That is how things finished with Barcelona picking up not just bragging rights but also delivering a huge psychological blow to their biggest rivals.

Mourinho went with an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Karim Benzema getting the nod up front. The Frenchman was flanked by Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria while Mesut Ozil joined from central midfield. Lassana Diarra and Xabi Alonso sat deep in midfield, ahead of a back four comprising Fabio Coentrao, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo.

Barcelona lined-up in similar fashion, but without a traditional centre-forward. Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez were the two furthest- up the field, with Cesc Fabregas playing in a free role off the frontline. Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were the imposing trio in midfield, with Dani Alves occupying his usual wing-back role on the right. Carles Puyol and Gerald Pique marshalled central defence while Eric Abidal took up the left-back slot.

Madrid had setup to press Barca high up the pitch and that move paid dividends within a minute of the game. Valdes cleared straight to Di Maria on the edge of the box, whose pass deflected towards Ozil and the German's strike found its way to Benzema, who had the simple task of poking the ball into the back of the net. Madrid did not give Barca space or time to work their magic, but the Catalans got a lucky break seven minutes in as they came within inches of levelling. Under pressure from Messi, Ramos lost possession after slipping and the little magician waltzed his way into the Madrid box to unleash a powerful drive, only to be denied by the fingertips of Casillas.

As the game of attrition continued, Madrid carved out a wonderful chance midway through the half as Benzema squared the ball into the box and Ronaldo of all people shot off target as a chance went begging. The miss was then put into full focus six minutes later as Barca equalized. Messi began to come deeper and deeper into the midfield to pick the ball and this time, he burst through the centre and laid a ball for Sanchez, who was making a run across the centre-backs. The winger collected the ball and placed his strike perfectly into the bottom corner to give Casillas no chance. Both sides created two chances each in a high-tempo first half, but Barca looked ominous going into the 2nd. Messi was perhaps a touch fortunate to be on the pitch, having talked himself into a yellow card, and then committing two late challenges which had he not already been booked would have earned him a yellow.

The visitors took the lead on 53 minutes as Xavi's strike from outside the box took a huge deflection off Marcelo and ballooned into the goal past a scrambling Casillas. It was a freak goal, but Barca didn't care as they led the game for the first time. Madrid were stunned as Barca began to dominate proceedings, with Messi finding more space. Around the hour-mark, the Argentine setup Sanchez again, but this time Casillas was up to the task as he kept out the Chilean's strike. Messi himself came close a few minutes later from a free-kick, which sailed just wide of the target. But that wasn't as glaring a miss as Ronaldo's at the other end a minute later. Alonso delivered an inch perfect cross into the box and with Ronaldo in space, a goal seemed inevitable. But the Portuguese star inexplicably planted his header off target.

Once again, Barca demonstrated the need to take your chances as less than a minute after Ronaldo's miss; they were 3-1 ahead thanks to Cesc Fabregas. A quick counter saw Alves, who was by now playing in a right wing position, deliver a delightful ball from the right and Fabregas got ahead of his marker at the far post to head the ball past Casillas. The goal effectively killed Madrid's hopes as Mourinho was one again left to rue missed chances. Barca cruised through the last quarter of the game, occasionally threatening Madrid's goal through the likes of Iniesta and substitute David Villa. By full-time, the Santiago Bernabeu wore a deserted look as the Catalans rejoiced over yet another scalp against their bitter rivals.

Barcelona now lead the table over Madrid, though the latter do have a game in hand and will look to extend their advantage when Barca head off to Asia to take part in the FIFA World Club Cup. Mourniho's men went into the game riding high on a 15-match winning streak and were rightly given the favourites tag. But Barca once again demonstrated the sheer quality of their side and with head-to-heads playing an important role in Spain, it is a double whammy for Madrid. Mourinho has defeated Guardiola's side only once in eight clashes since arriving in Spain and if today's result was anything to go by, the 'Special One' will have his task cut out in knocking them off their lofty perch.

Teams:

Real Madrid: Casillas, Coentrao, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Diarra (Khedira 63'), Xabi Alonso, Ozil (Kaka 58'), Di Maria (Higuain 68'), Benzema, Ronaldo

Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedro 89'), Alexis Sanchez (Villa 84'), Fabregas (Keita 79'), Messi

Final Score: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona

Goals: Benzema 1', Sanchez 30', Xavi 53', Fabregas 66'

File Photograph Copyright: Ferran21