Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 0

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Diarra, Emerson; Raúl, Guti (Beckham 82'), Robinho; Van Nistelrooy (Reyes 79'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Sylvinho; Iniesta, Xavi, Deco (Giuly 56'); Messi, Gudjohnsen (Saviola 65'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Madrid: Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Raúl, Robinho for Mejía, Raúl Bravo, Beckham, Cassano / Barça: Zambrotta, Deco for Belletti, Motta.

Goals:
1-0. 03. Raúl. Got behind defence to head Sergio Ramos cross wide of Valdés.
2-0. 51. Van Nistelrooy. Got on end of Robinho cross to steer ball past keeper.

Real Madrid completed one of their best weeks in a long time with a 2-0 victory over arch rivals Barcelona. Within three minutes they were already a goal up, Raúl heading a Sergio Ramos cross past Víctor Valdés, and the team captain came close to making it two a few minutes later with another shot which deflected off Thuram against the bar. And soon afterwards Robinho brought a good save out of Valdés with a shot from left of goal.

Messi caused some problems for the local defence, the youngster shooting at Casillas and then setting up Gudjohnssen for him to miss the target from close range. Gudjohnssen and Van Nistelrooy both had penalty appeals tuned down, Messi curled a shot over the top from Iniesta's pass and then tested Casillas again, and Ronaldinho fired a free kick wide as a lively first half came to an end.

Six minutes after the restart Van Nistelrooy connected with Robinho's cross on a quick breakaway to make it two, and the Dutch striker hit the post again later on with a clever chip. Robinho could have scored as well when he blasted a shot over the bar from near to goal, and Valdés did well to block another effort from Van Nistelrooy.

In the closing minutes Barça did their best to get a goal back, Casillas making an important save from a dipping Ronaldinho free kick and substitute Saviola firing an angled shot wide of the far post. But the game ended soon afterwards ,and Madrid move back up to fourth, just two points now behind Frank Rijkaard's side.