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Hit: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Another big game, another big goal, for Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. The Frenchman set Los Blancos on their way to victory over Barcelona with a fabulous opening goal.
Latching onto a cross from Lucas Vazquez, Benzema executed a cheeky backheel to beat Barcelona custodian Marc-Andre Ter Stegen at the near post. The goal made Benzema only the second Real Madrid player to score in at least seven consecutive La Liga games since the turn of the century.
The Frenchman doesn't score too many goals in the El Clasico. But he couldn't have found a better occasion to find the net against Barcelona.
With the title race heating up, the holders had to win this game to keep alive their hopes of retaining the La Liga crown.
Benzema's audacious effort gave them the momentum to do exactly that, as Real Madrid's win sees the holders move level on points with Atletico Madrid at the top, with Barcelona only a point behind.
Flop: Sergino Dest (Barcelona)
Sergino Dest, who had been going from strength to strength in recent games, dropped an absolute stinker against Real Madrid - so much that Ronald Koeman had to take off the American at half-time.
Dest was run ragged by the explosive Vinicius Junior on the break and was also at fault for the second Real Madrid goal.
As if his defensive woes were not enough, Dest also offered nothing going forward, failing to make a single cross or lay a key pass.
Hit: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
It was not the greatest night for the El Clasico king. But Lionel Messi was still the man pulling strings for Barcelona, starring with a fabulous performance.
Despite the attacking quality in the Barcelona ranks, Messi remained the main source of threat from the visitors, attempting seven of their 18 shots on goal.
The Argentine also shouldered much of Barcelona's creative burden, completing seven dribbles on the night, too.
On the downside, though, Lionel Messi once again drew a blank in the Clasico, doing so for the seventh time in a row, something that's going to be talked about fiercely in the post-match analyses.
