Barcelona get the better of Madrid

FC Barcelona emerged from El Clásico with their unbeaten record intact after overcoming rivals Real Madrid CF 2-1 at Camp Nou, moving six points clear of the capital club in the process.

With the respective coaches and stars Gareth Bale and Neymar all making their Clásico debuts, anticipation was sky-high. However, it was Barcelona's young Brazilian who had the biggest impact on proceedings. 

Neymar's bobbling shot picked out the bottom-right corner through a crowd of Madrid defenders to hand the Blaugrana the lead on 19 minutes. Victor Valdés denied Sami Khedira from point-blank range and made a stunning stop from Cristiano Ronaldo as the visitors sought an equaliser, but even when the Barcelona keeper was finally beaten, Karim Benzema's thunderbolt cracked off the crossbar.

Madrid's frustration turned to desperation when substitute Alexis Sánchez spotted Diego López off his line on 78 minutes and clipped a sublimely-weighted lob over the stranded goalkeeper to effectively end the contest. Jesé Rodríguez's first Madrid goal came in added time and proved to be scant consolation.

In the pick of results elsewhere, RC Celta de Vigo fired five past Málaga CF without reply, inflicting a third straight defeat on last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists. Alejandro López Sánchez's smart instep finish got the ball rolling, and Augusto Fernández crashed in the second from close range for a commanding half-time lead. The ever-alert López Sánchez was on hand to nod in a third and Nolito's sublime curler made it four. Charles Dias de Oliveira completed the 'manita' (5-0 win) as Celta leapfrogged their opponents in the standings.