In a pulsating El Clasico encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid emerged victorious over eternal rivals Barcelona, securing a vital 2-1 win in La Liga.In a pulsating El Clasico encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid emerged victorious over eternal rivals Barcelona, securing a vital 2-1 win in La Liga. The match began with both teams trading blows, but it was Real Madrid who struck first in the 12th minute. Brazilian wonderkid Vinicius Junior latched onto a superb through ball from Karim Benzema, dribbled past two defenders, and coolly slotted the ball past Barca goalkeeper Marc-AndrĂ© ter Stegen. Barcelona responded with renewed vigor, but Real Madrid’s defense, marshaled by captain Sergio Ramos, held firm. The Catalans came closest to equalizing in the 37th minute when Lionel Messi unleashed a trademark free-kick that cannoned off the post. The second half continued at a relentless pace, with both teams creating chances. Real Madrid doubled their lead in the 63rd minute through substitute Marco Asensio. After a flowing move down the left flank, Asensio received the ball just outside the box and curled a delightful effort into the far corner. Barcelona refused to surrender, and pulled one back through Luis Suarez in the 77th minute. The Uruguayan striker pounced on a loose ball in the Real Madrid penalty area and confidently fired home. The closing stages of the match were tense and thrilling, with both teams throwing bodies forward in search of a goal. However, Real Madrid held on to secure a crucial victory that leaves them top of the La Liga standings. The win was a statement of intent from Real Madrid, who showed that they are back to their best. They now hold a four-point lead over Barcelona with just seven games remaining in the season. For Barcelona, the defeat was a major setback in their pursuit of the La Liga title. They remain in second place but now trail Real Madrid by a significant margin.