BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Luis Suarez scored the winning goal to give Barcelona a 2-1 win over title rival Real Madrid in a physical “clasico” at Camp Nou on Sunday and extend their Spanish football league lead to four points.
Lionel Messi curled in a perfect free kick for Jeremy Mathieu to head in Barcelona’s opener in the 19th minute of a first half otherwise dominated by Madrid.
Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who had hit the woodwork before Barcelona’s goal, levelled from Karim Benzema’s superb backheel pass in the 31st – shortly after Neymar had missed a great chance to double the hosts’ lead.
But Suarez finally broke free from Madrid’s defence to restore Barcelona’s lead in the 56th, and Messi and Neymar both went close to adding goals in a second half dictated by the Catalan side.
Barcelona opened up a four-point gap over Madrid with another ten rounds remaining to decide the league crown.
