Ibra volley wins El Clasico

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.

Real were also reduced to ten-men late on when Lassana Diarra was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Xavi as Barca held on for the win.