Real Madrid struck late in the second half to secure a 3-2 win over arch-rivals FC Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday night.
Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez were back in for Madrid after the penalty shoot-out win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, whilst Barca made just one change in Andreas Christensen for Pedri after bowing out of Europe on Tuesday.
Barcelona hit the first blow on six minutes through a thumping header from the area by the self-same Christensen after meeting a corner from Raphinha.
Modric went close to inspiring a comeback four minutes later after helping a floated delivery into the path of Vinicius Junior, who sent his effort over the target.
Vinicius did get one in nonetheless albeit from the penalty spot after defender Pau Cubarsi had brought down Vazquez in the box around the midway stage.
Barca seemed to have restored the lead past the half-hour mark through Lamine Yamal from a ball by Raphinha, but it was called back for offside in the build-up.
Star man Jude Bellingham, whose brace in the reverse fixture helped Madrid to victory, first sight came late in the half when he drew a smart save from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen with a telling shot.
The defending champions came out for the second period eager to reclaimed the lead and made one change in Fermin Lopez in place of Christensen.
It was a relatively minutes in the resumption, but Barca regained the lead later on as Lopez capitalised on poor handling by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to finish easily.
Los Blancos bounced back around the last ten minutes when Vazquez made a blind run at the far post to meet Vinicius’ surging ball and volleyed in.
Both sides looked to go for the winner in the closing stages but lacked the necessary accuracy to get efforts in on the intended target.
Bellingham came good though in added time when he managed to get a yard in at the far post and tucked in Vazquez’s delivery to send Los Blancos 11 points clear at the top of the standings.
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