Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona: Clasico defeat compounds miserable week
Barça followed up the Inter draw with a loss at the Bernabeu on Sunday
Barcelona lost for the first time in LaLiga this season as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico.
Karim Benzema and Fede Valverde fired Madrid into a two-goal half time lead. Ferran Torres pulled one back but a late Rodrygo penalty sealed the three points for the home side at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid leapfrog Barca at the top of the table and remain unbeaten in the Primera Division. They have 25 points from nine games. Barça are three behind.
Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong came into the Barça side that drew with Inter Milan in midweek but Barça's soft underbelly was exposed again by Madrid in the first 45 minutes.
Benzema's goal came after Vinicius had beat the offside trap and seen his shot saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while Valverde drilled home after more suspect defending.
Robert Lewandowski missed a good chance for Barça at the far post to reduce the arrears, although he may have been ruled offside if the ball had gone in.
Barça pushed on after the break but Madrid remained comfortable.
However, an interesting finale was set up when Ansu Fati brilliantly set up Torres, the two substitutes combining to hand Barça a lifeline after a penalty was not given for a Dani Carvajal foul on Lewandowski.
But any hopes of snatching a point ended when the referee ruled Eric Garcia had fouled Rodrygo after checking the pitch side monitor. Rodrygo did the rest from the penalty spot.
