Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 to win El Clasico

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-1 to clinch El Clasico Sunday on matchday 9 of the Spanish La Liga.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scored with a close-range finish in the 12th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

The Spanish club doubled their lead with Federico Valverde's shot into the bottom corner in the 35th minute, assisted by Ferland Mendy.

Barcelona narrowed the gap to one with a goal in the 83rd minute as Ferran Torres rolled the ball into the net with his left foot.

But Rodrygo's penalty in the 91st minute settled the Clasico, ending the game 3-1.

Los Blancos jumped to the top of La Liga with 25 points, three points ahead of second-placed Barcelona.

Out of 250 Clasico clashes, Barcelona have 97 wins, Real Madrid 101 while the remaining 52 games ended in draws.