( CNN ) -- Barcelona 's Champions League title defense suffered a big blow in rainy London in midweek , and the Spanish club 's hopes of a fourth successive La Liga crown were all but ended in similarly wet conditions on home turf on Saturday . Real Madrid moved seven points clear of their archrivals with just four games to play after clinching a tense 2-1 victory in the `` El Clasico '' clash -- Barcelona 's first home defeat this season , ending a 54-game run in all competitions at the Camp Nou . Cristiano Ronaldo came out on top in his battle with Lionel Messi as his 73rd-minute winner took his league tally this season to 42 -- one more than the Argentine . `` We 've taken a gigantic step in La Liga by defeating Barcelona , '' Real captain Iker Casillas told the club 's website . `` There are still points in play and we must show respect for our opponents , but winning here is taking an important step in the championship . `` We behaved like a true team . Cristiano did an excellent job , but all of us played well from start to finish . It was a very important match and we earned a difficult victory . '' The match was ominously similar to Wednesday 's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea , as Barcelona dominated possession despite slippery conditions -- but failed to capitalize against a Madrid side who lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal . Clasico key to title race ? While the English club caught Barca on the counterattack just before halftime , Real exposed the Catalan side 's defensive weaknesses as Germany midfielder Sami Khedira scrambled in a 17th-minute opener after the home team failed to clear Angel di Maria 's inswinging corner . It was Real 's 108th goal in 34 league games this season -- a new record , beating Los Blancos ' feat in the 1989-90 season . Barca coach Josep Guardiola brought Alexis Sanchez off the bench with just over 20 minutes to go , and the Chile forward made an instant impact as he bundled in an equalizer at the second attempt . Sanchez replaced Spain midfielder Xavi , who made a record 32nd Clasico appearance . However , the home crowd 's relief was shortlived as Ronaldo beat the offside trip to gather Mesut Ozil 's fine pass down the right , and the world 's most expensive player netted his 54th goal this season from an acute angle . Messi has scored 63 in all competitions , but has now not netted in the last three Clasico matches -- and Barca have lost back to back for the first time since 2009 . Real 's former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho celebrated his second Clasico victory in 11 clashes , and first in the league , having won the Spanish Cup last year . The 49-year-old has already won titles in England , Italy and his native Portugal , and was under big pressure to end Barca 's dominance this season . `` I congratulate Real Madrid for their victory and also for their league title which I have no doubt they have clinched tonight , '' Guardiola told reporters , as he defended his decision to leave Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique on the bench . `` I selected the team which I thought had the best chance to defeat Madrid . '' Real had held a 10-point lead just over a month ago , but three draws allowed Barcelona -- who had won 11 games in a row -- to entertain hopes of closing the gap to just one this weekend . Guardiola 's team still hold a 29-point lead over third-placed Valencia , who host Real Betis on Sunday . In Italy 's Serie A , fourth-placed Udinese 's Champions League hopes were dented by a 0-0 draw with mid-table Chievo on Saturday . The result left Udinese two points behind third-placed Lazio , who play on Sunday along with leaders Juventus and title-chasing deefnding champions AC Milan . Napoli moved up to fifth with a 2-0 win at home to second-bottom Novara .
Cristiano Ronaldo 's goal in Clasico puts Real Madrid seven points clear . Second - placed Barcelona suffers second successive defeat this week . Both teams were beaten in midweek Champions League qualifying first legs . Defeat ends Barcelona 's 54-match unbeaten run at the Camp ##s .