Real Madrid secured a hard fought 2-1 win against Barcelona to level on points with City rivals, Atletico, on top of the La Liga table.

Zinedine Zidane’s men were three points adrift of Atletico before the match with Barcelona who were closer to the top fancying their chances having won their last match to reduce the deficit to one point behind Diego Simeone’s men.

Defending champions Madrid who were, however, unwilling to let go of the title easily put two past Barcelona after 28 minutes.

Karim Benzema who took up the captain role in the absence of injured Sergio Ramos netted via an amazing back heel to give Madrid the lead in the 13th minute.

Toni Kroos doubled the lead 15 minutes later with a superb free kick which took a slight deflection off Jordi Alba but the goal was awarded to the German.

Madrid would have gone three goals up before half time but Velverde’s effort was denied by the woodwork to keep Barca in the game.

Lionel Messi’s almost pulled one back for the visitors through a direct corner kick but his effort was denied by the bar with Courtois well beaten.

Courtois ensured that Madrid went into the break with their two goal advantage after he denied Messi a clear opportunity from close range.

The lead was cut short in the second half after Alba’s cross found unmarked Óscar Mingueza who flicked the ball into the hosts net to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute.

The lead was however cut short in the second half after Alba’s cross found unmarked Óscar Mingueza who flicked the ball into the hosts net to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute.

Barcelona subsequently pushed hard to get an equaliser but it wasn’t to be as the host hanged on to the slender lead.
There was a late drama in the game when Casemiro got sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of a minute for two separate fouls on Messi and Mingueza.

The game ended with a scramble in Madrid’s box after Moriba was fouled by Isco, giving Barca the chance to launch one last ball into the penalty area.

It was nodded down for Moriba who crashes a shot against the crossbar leaving Courtois stranded.
The ball headed straight to Ter Stegen, of all players, with Trincao inadvertently blocking his shot. Ter Stegen tries again and Alba gets hold of it, firing over from range.

Madrid have now done a league double against their biggest rival to temporarily lead on the league table as they await the outcome of Atletico’s game against Real Betis tomorrow.