Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores only goal as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 1-0
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 30, Nov 2009 11:17
By Matthew Champion.
Barcelona emerged victorious from the first El Clasico match of the season with a 1-0 win over archrivals Real Madrid.
Substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the game's only goal when he volleyed Dani Alves' deep right-wing cross past the despairing Iker Casillas.
The Swedish striker, a £60 million signing from Inter Milan in the summer, had only just come on as a replacement for Thierry Henry.
Both sides were reduced to ten men in the match, which saw Barcelona regain top spot in La Liga, as Sergio Busquets and Lassana Diarra were shown red cards.
The result leaves Barcelona, the defending champions, unbeaten after 12 games on 30 points, two ahead of Madrid.
"To be four behind would make things much more difficult," Barca manager Pep Guardiola said.
"We have rediscovered the spirit of last year against a team who like to have the ball and dominate play. Real played well but we were never out of the game."
His Real counterpart Manuel Pellegrini added: "Barca are always difficult opponents at home but they came up against a good Madrid tonight."