REAL MADRID 0 BARCELONA 3: Leaders strike major blow in title race

The Santiago Bernabeu roared its approval as the home side started strongly, and Ronaldo headed the ball into the net inside two minutes only for a correctly raised offside flag to cut short the celebrations.

Barca appeared content to allow Madrid a greater share of possession as they maintained a more rigid shape and it kept both the home players and crowd frustrated, as the game entered something of a walking pace.

There was a sudden explosion into life half an hour in, though, as Keylor Navas made a brilliant save to tip over Paulinho's shot following Messi's sublime pass, before Ronaldo drove down the other end and forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen to save well at the near post.

With the game at last coming to life, Paulinho was again denied when Navas kept out his header, while Benzema glanced Marcelo's cross off the base of the right-hand post, with Ter Stegen beaten.

6 - Karim Benzema has hit the woodwork more than times (6) than he has scored (5) in all competitions this season. Unlucky. pic.twitter.com/8mvmkcKhSD

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 23, 2017

If Madrid began the first half better, it was Barca who came out flying for the second period – and, unlike the home side, they made their dominant spell count.

Ivan Rakitic was allowed to burst right through the heart of the Madrid midfield and play the ball out wide to Sergi Roberto, whose first-time cross was finished with aplomb by Suarez as he arrived unmarked from the left.

Frustrations were growing rapidly for the home side and particularly with Suarez, who was booed resoundingly for his reaction to a Casemiro challenge before he was caught round the face by a stray arm from Sergio Ramos, which earned the Madrid captain a booking.

Zidane was preparing to make some changes but, in the 63rd minute, the match was put beyond the champions. Suarez missed two golden opportunities to score, denied first by Navas and then the post, and as Paulinho tried to prod home the rebound, Carvajal blocked his attempt with a clear raised arm.

The ball was eventually put into the net but, rather than allow the goal to stand, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez brought it back for a penalty and sent off Carvajal, before Messi swept the spot-kick high past Navas.

Marco Asensio and Bale were at last introduced and nearly combined to give Madrid a lifeline, with the Welshman just denied by Ter Stegen after Asensio had found space. Ramos then had a shot blocked and just failed to turn a Ronaldo cross home.

But Ernesto Valverde's side made absolutely sure of what could prove to be a pivotal win in injury time, as Messi teed up Vidal on the edge of the area and his low shot squirmed through Navas' grasp and into the net.

Madrid's title hopes look to have all but evaporated, while Barca will finish 2017 at least eight points clear at the top, depending on whether Valencia can beat Villarreal later on Saturday.