LaLiga
Result: Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
Date: 01 March 2020
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid took control in the LaLiga title race after defeating fierce rivals FC Barcelona 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night.
Click through the gallery to see action from Real's win over Barcelona.
Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane made two changes from the loss against Manchester City, as Toni Kroos and Marcelo returned at the expense of Luka Modric and Ferland Mendy. Meanwhile, Barca boss Quique Setien recalled Jordi Alba returned and Arthur in place of Ivan Rakitic and Junior Firpo.
The sides were evenly matched in the opening exchanges but Blaugrana had the first clear chance in the 21st minute after Alba played a cut-back towards Antoine Griezmann, whose first time shot sailed over the bar.
Barcelona had another great chance to break the deadlock ten minutes before the break after Arthur went clear on goal but his curling shot was saved by Los Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a one-on-one duel.
Zidane's charges lost quite a few second balls from Barca's high press and were nearly punished when Lionel Messi went through on goal a few minutes thereafter but his thumping strike was smothered by Courtois.
Madrid were fired up after the break and came very close to finding the breakthrough ten minutes into the second stanza after Isco unleashed a stunning strike from the edge of the box that forced Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a save.
With 19 minutes left in the contest, Vinicius Junior finally broke the deadlock for Zidane's men with a deflected finish past Ter Stegen after being a played in Kroos.
Setien responded with a double change in the last ten minutes, after bringing on Rakitic in place of Arthur while Anssumane Fati came on for Griezmann.
However, second-half substitute Mariano Diaz sealed the three points for the hosts with his first touch in the game after squeezing the ball past Ter Stegen at the near post to seal victory.
