Goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar have given a dominant Barcelona a 2-0 lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid at half time in El Clasico at the Bernabeu.
Barca know that a win could send them six points clear at the top of La Liga and after a pre-match tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, they started brightly, with Suarez and Neymar linking up well for the latter to fire over from the edge of the box.
In a cauldron of noise in Madrid the home side had the first clear-cut opportunity when Cristiano Ronaldo raced past Javier Mascherano before firing a low ball across goal which Claudio Bravo did well to clear, but moments later the locals were silenced as the Catalans scored a fine opener.
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Sergi Roberto drove through the heart of the home side's midfield before slipping a reverse pass into the path of Suarez, and the Uruguayan drilled past the helpless Keylor Navas with the outside of his foot to put the league leaders in front.
Barca, with Lionel Messi fit enough only for a place on the bench, showed no signs of missing their talisman as they continued to dictate the play after going in front against a Madrid side struggling to find any kind of rhythm.
Neymar's free kick was saved by Navas midway through the first half before the impressive Roberto missed a superb chance to double the lead, leaning back as he tried to turn home a bouncing ball and instead firing over the crossbar.
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Javier Mascherano had to be replaced after picking up a groin injury and following his departure the game opened up, and Real carved out their first real chance when James Rodriguez tested Bravo with an effort from outside the box.
Benzema then failed to convert amid panicked defending from the visitors, but when the second goal arrived minutes later it was more bad news for Rafael Benitez's side.
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Fine play from Andres Iniesta resulted in the Barca skipper playing Neymar through on goal, and with the Real defence appealing for offside the Brazilian slipped a neat finish under Navas from a tight angle to put Barcelona in control.
They could have had a third seconds before the whistle when Barca's star attacking duo combined once more, but Marcelo was in the right place to clear Suarez's header off the line as the half-time whistle save a beleaguered Madrid from further punishment.
Tom Nightingale
