Big Christmas gift for Barcelona as they beat 10 men Real Madrid at home in El Clasico (Details, pics)

A much-improved second-half performance from Barcelona featuring goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal helped the La Liga leaders to a 3-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, all but ending Real's hopes of defending their title.

The hosts started the game well and thought they had taken the lead with just three minutes on the clock. Toni Kross’ corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo was on hand to power home a header. However, the offside flag was correctly raised against the Portuguese.

Real went into the game looking to close the 11-point gap between themselves and Barca, but they were left disappointed come full-time. It was a first half of precious few chances and Ronaldo wasted a fine opening when he missed his kick following good work form Toni Kroos down the left.

Lionel Messi struggled to escape the attentions of Mateo Kovacic early on but when he did find space with half an hour played, he found the perfect pass for Paulinho, only for the Brazilian’s angled half-volley for be tipped over by Keylor Navas in the home goal.

Real were quick to react to that chance as they carved out one of their own. Just minutes later, Ronaldo squared up his man in the left channel and beat him on the outside, only for his low effort to be kept out by the foot of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Gerard Pique was then forced into a fine block to prevent Karim Benzema from opening the scoring form Ronaldo’s low cross, before both sides missed great chances to take the lead just before the break.

First, Paulinho saw a header from a Messi cross palmed to safety by Navas, before Benzema flicked a header from a deep cross from Marcelo against the outside of the post with Ter Stegen rooted.

The two sides went into the break level and it was the visitors who stepped up their performance in the second half. Just seconds after Luis Suarez had seen a low effort from a Jordi Alba cut-back kept out by Navas, the Uruguayan gave Barca the lead.

Ivan Rakitic was allowed to carry the ball through the heart of the Real midfield, with Mateo Kovacic reluctant to leave Messi unmarked and the former Sevilla midfielder fed Sergi Roberto down the right, whose low centre was perfect for Suarez to slot home at the far post.

Paulinho tested Navas with an effort from range before the Barca were gifted a chance to double their lead just after the hour mark.

Suarez should have doubled his and Barca’s tally for the day after being put in by Messi but after his first effort was saved by Navas and the second crashed back off the post, a scramble ensued.

The Catalan side managed to bundle the ball over the line but the whistle had already gone for a deliberate handball by Dani Carvajal and Barca were awarded a penalty, with Carvajal given his marching orders.

Messi made no mistake from the spot, powering the ball home to put Barca in control. Despite being down to 10, Real mounted some pressure late on. The returning Gareth Bale was twice thwarted by Ter Stegen, whilst the German also made a fine save at his near post to deny Sergio Ramos.

Navas made a great save from the Argentine shortly afterwards as he looked to keep the score respectable.

At the other end, substitute Nelson Semedo was denied by an excellent stop from Navas, but there were question marks about the Costa Rican's goalkeeping as Barca added to their lead in added-on time.

The ball appeared to have gone out down the right but Messi played on, skipping past Marcelo and pulling it back for Aleix Vidal to hit a low effort that squeezed below Navas and into the net to add some gloss to the scoreline and add insult to injury for Zinedine Zidane.

The win leaves Barca 14 points clear of Real and with a nine-point lead at the top of the table going into the winter break.