Real Madrid cruised to the summit of the La Liga log with with deserved but hard-fought 2-1 victory over perennial rivals, Barcelona, courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

In what was a battle of season redemption for both teams who have not been the same domineering forces in the league as they are known to be, it was the capital team who drew the fist blood courtesy of Karim Benzema.

The Frenchman finished off a fine move, in what was real Madrid's first shot of the game, with a deft backheel at the near post to beat Andre Ter Stergen. The strike was Benzema's seventh consecutive goal in the league this season to take his tally to 19 goals in 26 league appearances, only behind Lionel Messi on the chart.

Toni Kroos doubled Real's lead from a deflected free kick off Sergio Dest and Jordi Alba. Federico Valverde could have made it three but his efforts came off the post before before Oscar Mingueza pulled one back for the Catalan club in a tensed closing stage.

There were several talking points in a tie that always never disappoints in that regard. Casemiro received his second yellow in a matter of minutes to ensure Real ended the game with ten men.

A Barcelona side that has seen a recent turn in form to move up the log to third place were unable to get enough inspiration to unsettle their opponents with Lionel Messi failing to score in his seventh consecutive Classico game. He last scored in the tie in the 2017/2018 season, in what was Cristiano Ronaldo's last appearance in the tie.

A Real Madrid side coming from a victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie and without their injured captain, Sergio Ramos, this was the first time since the 2007/08 that Real Madrid have won both legs of the Classico tie in a season and their first three consecutive wins in the tie since 1978.

The win meant Real Madrid propel up the log to first place with 66 points, unseating city rivals, Atletico Madrid, head to head rule. Atletico could regain their top spot with a victory against Real Betis on Sunday.