Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid: Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo strikes secure El Clasico victory for Zinedine Zidane's side

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Clasico for Real Madrid as Barcelona lost their first game in 40 matches despite their opponents

having Sergio Ramos sent off.

If he leaves at the end of the season this may well have have been Ronaldo’s last appearance at the Nou Camp and he scored a memorable late winner to give his side a 2-1 win.

With Ramos barely off the pitch for his umpteenth bookable offence, Madrid kept attacking a tired looking Barca defence and when Gareth Bale crossed deep to Ronaldo he found himself at the back post one-on-one with Dani Alves.

The Brazilian full-back jumped but failed to make contact with the ball. Ronaldo waited for it to drop on to his chest and then rifled it low past Claudio Bravo before celebrating in front of Barca’s crestfallen supporters.

The game had been billed as a tribute to Johan Cruyff but much of Madrid’s play had been more a homage to Jose Mourinho who made an art form of smothering Barca and making the most of their mistakes.

The result leaves them seven points behind Barca who look ominously fatigued late on and now have just three days to recover before a Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid.

Things were emotional before kick-off when the stadium applauded a video of clips and tributes to Cruyff and the Nou Camp mosaic then spelled out ‘Gracies Johan’ alongside the image of his No 14 shirt.

The following minute’s silence was spoiled by various shouts from the crowd but the Barca players paid their own tribute by keeping the ball for the first minute and a half.

There was early needle when Pepe and Busquets crunched into a 50-50 and Dani Alves robbed Cristiano Ronaldo and the Real forward was given what looked a generous foul. Madrid were letting Barcelona come on to them and on 10 minutes the home side could have taken the lead.

Suarez muscled Ramos off the ball allowing it to run on to Neymar. The Brazilian crossed but somehow the centre went through Suarez's legs when he had the goal at his mercy. It was a let-off for the Madrid defenders who raced to the referee to complain that Suarez had been offside. They were forgetting that a player cannot be offside from a goal-kick and Ramos protested so much that he was booked.

Madrid were playing with great caution but had their first chance when a Luka Modric pass sent Bale through. His cross hit jordi Alba and was gathered by Claudio Bravo.