An under-strength Real Madrid beat Barcelona for a second time to finish a great week ahead of their much-anticipated Champions League return leg with Manchester United on Tuesday.
Barcelona put out an almost identical side to the one that lost on Tuesday, with the exception of Cesc Fàbregas and the injured Xavi Hernandez, who made way for Thiago Alcantara and David Villa.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso were all absent from the starting XI for the club's second Clásico in five days, as goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos gave them a third win against Barça from six matches this season.
Despite Madrid having the weaker side out, they were the first to draw blood after six minutes. Morata picked the ball up on the left wing, beat a placid Dani Alves and delivered a low ball across the box which Benzema tapped in from just a few yards out at the far post to give Madrid the lead.
Barça sought an immediate response but created few chances despite having more possession.
They were however level on 17 minutes through none other than the irrepressible Lionel Messi.
It was Messi's 39th goal of the current La Liga season and his 18th in a Clasico, drawing him level with fellow Argentine Alfredo Di Stefano as the player to score the most goals in this legendary fixture.
Madrid then sought to regain the lead as Ronaldo headed a free-kick by Modric just over the bar.
Real's pressure soon paid off when Luka Modric sent in a corner and Sergio Ramos rose above the Barca defence to head the ball into the back of the net in the 81st minute.
That was all the scoring to be had as Madrid once again got one over their bitter rivals in a span of just 5 days.
Madrid's win has cut the gap between them and their adversaries to 13 points after another morale boosting victory over the Catalans at the Santiago Bernabéu.
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