A clinical Real Madrid beat Barcelona in the 250th El Clasico to remain top of La Liga and their first league defeat of the season.
Karim Benzema scored Real’s opener after Vinicius Junior’s shot was saved in his path by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Federico Valverde doubled the champions’ lead before half-time with a beautiful 20-yard drive.
Ferran Torres pulled one back from Robert Lewandowski’s flick-on but Rodrigo saved him from the penalty spot.
The rivals started the day with seven wins and a draw from their opening eight games – but Real now lead by three points as they remain unbeaten.
It was Xavi’s first defeat in La Liga in almost a year in charge of Barcelona.
A big loss for Xavi?
Barcelona looked like they were going back to the top of Spanish football at the end of last season when they beat Real 4-0 at the Bernabeu.
They took a gamble in the summer by spending much of their future earnings on signings. The club hoped that this would lead to immediate success, which would result in more revenue.
But they face early elimination from the Champions League – and then showed how far behind their old rivals they are.
It is only their first defeat of the season – and they are still within three points of top spot in La Liga. But this is El Clasico – a game managers dare not lose.
The thing to think about for Xavi is how he looks better after bringing in youngsters in Ferran Torres, Gavi and Ansu Fati.
Barca appeared 2-0 down and out before these introductions. Fati’s cross was deflected into the path of Torres, who scored his second Clásico goal at the Bernabeu of the year.
Fati then hit an acrobatic volley that went just wide during their brief hope of a point – before Rodrigo settled the game.
Benzema wins the battle of the strikers
Benzema led Real Madrid to the Champions League and La Liga titles last season and is likely to win the Ballon d’Or.
His scoring start this season has been slow though. His opener, to stop a swift counter-attack, was only his fourth La Liga goal of the season.
The France international thought he had a fifth goal in the second half with a fine finish from outside the box – but he didn’t hear the whistle blown for offside as he celebrated with the home fans.
One man in flying form ahead of Sunday’s game was Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who, like Benzema, is 34.
The two-time FIFA Men’s Player of the Year scored nine goals in his first eight games in La Liga following his summer move from Bayern Munich.
But he lacked the clinical finishing of Benzema this time. In particular he slid a cross into an empty net from close range and drilled the free-kick straight into the wall.
Poole will score more goals this season but for now Benzema showed he is still the top striker in El Clasico.
