Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to give Barcelona a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and leapfrog them at the head of the table.
Ibrahimovic comes off the bench to net winner as both sides finish with ten men
Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to give Barcelona a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and leapfrog them at the head of the table.
The best chance of the first half fell to Cristiano Ronaldo but his goalbound shot was brilliantly saved by Victor Valdes with his out-stretched right leg.
As Barca pushed for the win Ibrahimovic came off the bench in the 51st minute and five minutes later superbly volleyed home a Dani Alves cross.
But the Catalans went down to ten men on 62 minutes when Sergi Busquets received a second yellow for handball.
Gerard Pique could then have won it for the home side but headed wide from a Xavi free-kick with the goal gaping, while Iker Casillas denied Lionel Messi with a minute to go.
Real were then also reduced to ten-men when Lassana Diarra was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Xavi in the dying seconds as Barca held on for the win.
The home side looked the more fluid of the two sides early on, but Madrid proved to be just as dangerous on the break.
Marcelo and Xavi both blasted over the bar in the opening 10 minutes as both sides began brightly.
Alert
Casillas had to be alert to gather for Thierry Henry's cross after a trademark Messi run and the Madrid keeper also intercepted well moments later as Andres Iniesta tried to set up Xavi.
Barca were edging it on possession and play, but Madrid had the best chance of the half after 20 minutes.
It fell to Ronaldo and the former Manchester United forward should have scored after he was brilliantly set up by Kaka, but his shot was too close to Valdes and the Barca keeper made a smart save.
Marcelo then got into a great position eight minutes later, but Carles Puyol intercepted the Brazilian's shot with a perfectly-timed block.
At the other, Casillas did well to cut out Iniesta's low cross as half-time approached and the Spain keeper also pushed Henry's cross-shot over the bar moments later.
With the score still goalless, the rather ineffective Henry was replaced by Ibrahimovic six minutes into the second half.
And the Sweden striker was quickly involved in the build-up as Xavi found a great position in the box, but the Spain midfielder hesitated and saw his effort deflected wide for a corner.
From the resulting centre, Madrid raced forward and Gonzalo Higuain looked certain to score after turning Eric Abidal in the area, but Puyol once again appeared from nowhere with another majestic block.
Thumping volley
Madrid were certainly having their chances, but Manuel Pellegrini's side soon found themselves behind when Ibrahimovic smashed home Alves' looping cross with a thumping left-footed volley at the far post which gave Casillas no chance.
Barca's joy turned somewhat sour six minutes later, though, when Busquets - who had already been booked - was shown the red card for a cynical handball.
Ronaldo then headed just over the bar from Marcelo's cross as Madrid immediately threatened to draw level.
But the Portugal winger, perhaps feeling the effects of his recent injury, departed straight after that and his replacement Karim Benzema was quickly involved.
The France striker saw an effort blocked by the impressive Puyol while at the other end, an unmarked Gerard Pique could have added a second goal for Barca but headed just wide from Xavi's free-kick.
Benzema then flashed another effort wide as Madrid looked for a way back into the game, with Pellegrini introducing veteran Raul in an attempt to make the most of his side's numerical advantage.
But Barca still looked dangerous on the break and Abidal drilled an angled drive just wide of Casillas' far post with 14 minutes left.
And Guardiola's side should have made sure of the points with two minutes left, but Messi shot straight at Casillas from point-blank range.
Diarra was then dismissed a minute later for scything down Xavi as frustration got to Madrid, who are now two points behind their rivals at the top of the table.
