Real Madrid put one hand on the Copa De Espana trophy after a commanding 3-1 win over arch-rivals, Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
The first competitive El-Clasico of the 2017/18 season lived up to the bill, providing enough drama for neutrals and football fans.
Following a goalless first half that saw five players get booked, Real Madrid took the lead after 50 minutes thanks to Gerard Pique‘s own goal.
The visitors showed their intent minutes later by bringing on Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio in search of more goals.
But it would be Barcelona to get the next goal in the 77th minute albeit in controversial circumstance.
Luis Suarez was adjudged to have been brought down in the penalty area, though, replays showed the striker made a meal of going for the ball with Madrid keeper, Keylor Navas.
Nonetheless, Lionel Messi tucked away the ensuing penalty to make it 1-1 on the night.
And that’s as good as it got for the home side, with Ronaldo losing Pique before firing in a curling shot past the Barca keeper to restore Madrid’s lead.
But the Portuguese international was sent off a minute later for a questionable second yellow card – having received a first for taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal.
Ronaldo’s sending off did not stop Madrid, though, as Asensio smashed home a third goal late on to give Zinedine Zidane‘s men a healthy advantage going into next week’s second leg.
Barcelona on their part must now figure a way of overturning a two-goal deficit – and three away goals – while also dispelling murmurs the club is missing Neymar.
The Brazil forward recently completed a world record move to PSG and began life there with a goal and assist in the 3-0 win over Guingamp in Ligue 1 on Sunday.