Raul leads rampant Real to El Clasico victory

Real Madrid produced their best display of the season to beat Barcelona in the Spanish derby and gain a little revenge on their Catalan rivals.

Frank Rijkaard's side had humbled the Galacticos in the Bernebeu last season, thrashing them 3-0 on their own patch in a match which served to highlight the huge gulf in class between the two sides.

However, there would be no repeat this time around as Fabio Capello's side convincingly despatched their rivals with a goal in each half from Raul and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, which moves them to within two points of Frank Rijkaard's team after seven rounds of the Spanish League.

There were no real surprises from either coach in the starting line-ups.

Capello opted for an attacking trident of Raul, Van Nistelrooy and Robinho, leaving David Beckham on the bench, while Rijkaard kept faith with Eidur Gudjohnsen up front, alongside Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.

In defence, veteran French defender Lilian Thuram came in for Mexican Rafael Marquez.

The game did not take long to warm up and some fans had still not taken their seats when Real Madrid opened the scoring.

Sergio Ramos escaped down the right and picked out Raul at the far post with a pinpoint cross.

The Real captain beat Victor Valdes with a crashing header which sent the Bernabeu into raptures with just two minutes on the clock.

Barcelona looked in shock and the home side continued to dominate.

Roberto Carlos sent a stinging free-kick well wide after nine minutes and popped up again in the next Real attack.

The Brazilian crossed dangerously from the left, but Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes intercepted with Raul and Van Nistelrooy bearing down on goal.

Robinho then crossed for Raul, who grazed the upright with a clever glancing header after 14 minutes.

The young Brazilian striker was enjoying perhaps his best game since joining Real last year from Santos and tried his luck from outside the area on 17 minutes, forcing a fine save from Valdes.

Up until that point, it had been all Real Madrid, but Barcelona began to win more possession and could have had a penalty after 20 minutes, when Lionel Messi appeared to be brought by Fabio Cannavaro, but the referee waved play on.

Two minutes later, the Argentinian shot straight at Casillas from outside the area as Barcelona began to take control of the game.

However, in the very next move, Robinho raced forward on a rapid counter attack and released Raul on the left, but the Real captain was beaten to the ball by an alert Valdes.

At the other end, Messi escaped down the right and wrong-footed Ramos and Cannavaro with a sublime flick, before squaring to the unmarked Gudjohnsen, who shot wide from just five yards out.

In the 31st minute, a last-ditch Roberto Carlos tackle saved Real Madrid with the lively Messi bearing down on goal following a clever one-two with Ronaldinho.

Five minutes later, the unmarked Gudjohnsen failed to control the ball on the edge of the area and another Barcelona opportunity slipped away.

Ronaldinho then sent a wonderful curling free-kick inches wide of Casillas' top right-hand corner.

Two minutes before the break, Emerson, already booked, hacked down Messi in midfield and was extremely lucky to escape a second yellow card.

Neither team made changes at the break and it was Barcelona who started strongest, enjoying the lion's share of the possession in the second half's opening exchanges.

Nevertheless, after 51 minutes, Real doubled their lead when a Guti dummy left Puyol and Thuram for dead in the centre circle.

The Spaniard then released Robinho on the right flank and the Brazilian charged forward before finding Van Nistelrooy, who beat the advancing Valdes to the ball and poked home on the volley.

Barcelona looked like a beaten side and four minutes later, Van Nistelrooy sent a delicate chip on to the crossbar with Casillas beaten.

Robinho then sent a thundering half-volley just over the bar from thirty yards and a commanding home win looked on the cards.

The Brazilian deserved a goal and had another effort in the 61st minute.

The striker moved cleverly into space but could not trouble Casillas with a wild left-foot drive.

Messi then found the side netting with an angled drive as Barcelona looked to hit back.

Javier Saviola and Ludovic Giuly were brought on to freshen up the Catalan attack and Ronaldinho also came close with another swerving free-kick, but it was not to be Barcelona's day.

At the other end, Guti released the unmarked Van Nistelrooy in the area, but the Dutchman saw his shot parried by the excellent Casillas.

Beckham then replaced the Spaniard in the 81st minute and promptly picked up a booking for time-wasting.

There was no need. Barcelona could not trouble Casillas again and Real Madrid scored a deserved victory which leaves them just two points behind the Catalans.

Fabio's Capello's side is back in business and the title race is well and truly on in Spain.