Things are hard for Barcelona when Messi doesn't deliver El Clasico A quiet night from the Argentinian

Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz - yes, you read that correctly - were the heroes who led Real Madrid to victory in a 2-0 Clasico defeat of Barcelona on Sunday evening.

Lionel Messi was quiet on the night and the Catalans paid as a result. Antoine Griezmann was again anonymous, which isn't even newsworthy anymore.

Barcelona didn't react to Vinicius' goal before Mariano Diaz, unused all season, came on to kill the game off and to provide Madrid with the exact medicine they needed.

It was Vinicius' Clasico.

We'll never know where his shot was going to end up before it touched off Gerard Pique to catch Marc-Andre Ter Stegen out, but he won't care.

Barcelona arrived at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as leaders, but they blew a big opportunity.

They didn't take advantage of their best moments and Madrid came roaring back.

Neither Griezmann, nor Arthur Melo, nor Martin Braithwaite nor even Messi were able to continue the Catalans' good record at the Bernabeu.

Thibaut Coutois was impressive between the sticks.

He made some big saves, particularly on Arthur and Messi.

This time he managed to keep another clean sheet, and Madrid got three points as a result.

Ter Stegen made the save of the night though.

The German produced a fine stop to tip an Isco strike away, which had seemed destined for the top corner at 0-0.

He also got a hand on a header from the No.22, but he needed Pique to clear it off the line.

Cristiano Ronaldo watched on from a private box as Madrid's scoring troubles were forgotten.

Nobody will ever forget what he did, and he was able to celebrate the win at the end of the evening.

Marcelo was a surprise inclusion in the XI and justified Zinedine Zidane's faith in him.

He started well and looked to get forward even if his choice of pass wasn't always the best.

A couple of misplaced passes at the start of the second half brought some rumblings from the stands.

Jordi Alba and Dani Carvajal went to war early on.

They were committing fouls and battling tooth and nail.

Both got booked for a coming together but then enjoyed a handshake and cuddle at half time.