Twitter Reacts to Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez vs Barcelona

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-1 at the Bernabeu on Saturday in the first Clasico of the season, taking their La Liga win streak to six matches and closing the gap at the top of the standings to a single point.

Barcelona had taken the lead through Neymar after just three minutes, but after that, it was all Real Madrid in  the first half. Los Blancos pushed forward, with Toni Kroos doing a good job controlling possession and James Rodriguez presenting a real threat coming inside from the right wing.

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Karim Benzema was incredibly unlucky not to score and break Claudio Bravo's streak of clean sheets to start the season after 10 minutes, hitting the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds.

Cristiano Ronaldo created space with a lovely move and fired in a cross for the France international, who saw his powerful header explode on the cross bar. Fighting his way to the loose ball, the rebound hit the post before going out of play.

According to WhoScored.com, such a sequence was inevitable:

At least Benzema made Clasico history with the unlucky miss, via OptaJose.

Real continued to push and were rewarded with a penalty when Gerard Pique inexplicably tried to block a cross by diving for it as if he was a goalkeeper. Ronaldo stepped up and tucked it away confidently, tying things up.

As shared by Kick TV, the goal was No. 21 of the 2014-15 campaign, an incredible number:

Bravo's record now stands at 776 minutes, per WhoScored:

Goal's Kris Voakes is still in awe of Ronaldo's scoring ability:

Pepe gave the lead to the hosts early in the second half, opening Barcelona up to the counter attack. And with an hour played, Los Blancos showed exactly how dangerous those counters can be.

Isco picked Andres Iniesta's pocket, played it for Ronaldo, isolating Rodriguez who found a streaking Benzema to make it 3-0. The Frenchman has been a real menace for the Blaugrana at home:

Even celebrities could appreciate the greatness on view, including former Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson:

Rodriguez has slotted into this Real side seamlessly, and ITV Football even wonders whether there's still a spot for Gareth Bale in the starting XI:

Professional football player Henok Goitom praised the youngster's vision in the buildup:

Los Blancos were now cruising, launching one dangerous counter after the other. Ronaldo served more as a play-maker, to the enjoyment of former American football star Jimmy Conrad:

Former England international Gary Lineker is impressed with his drive on the pitch:

With the win, Real Madrid draw within one point of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings, ending the Catalans' unbeaten start in the process. Los Blancos have now won six straight and playing better than ever, putting the rest of the league on notice.

No attacking duo has been more efficient in 2014-15 than Ronaldo and Benzema, and if Rodriguez keeps developing into the midfield ace Carlo Ancelotti hopes he will become, there will be few teams in world football with any chance of slowing down Los Blancos.

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