Figo strike sinks Barca

Luis Figo silenced the away fans by scoring an injury-time goal to add to Fernando Morientes's early strike and beat his old club Barcelona 2-0.

This world-famous 'derby' is renowned for its high-voltage competition and tense atmosphere and this latest installment did not disappoint with the two long-term rivals going at each other right from the off with the challenges thick and fast.

Barca withstood some early pressure from the home side and created the first clear chances of the game; Rivaldo was just a whisker away from turning in a Gabri Garcia volley after 16 minutes while Real 'keeper Iker Casillas had to get down to block another fierce effort from Gabri seconds later.

Steve McManaman was gifted with a free header at the far post following an inch-perfect cross from Zinedine Zidane, but the former Liverpool star could only find the side netting.

Real took the lead against the run of play in the 23rd minute, McManaman's cross was headed back at the far post to Morientes to head over the line from close range, as Barca's Roberto Bonano was left completely stranded.

The goal renewed Real's confidence although Barca persistently threatened with a string of sweeping counter attacks. The on-field tension came to a head five minutes before half time when Rivaldo reacted to a jab in the face from Real skipper Fernando Hierro, and the two had to be held apart as words were exchanged in one of the games more heated moments.

Real turned the screw on the Catalan visitors in the second half, Figo curled a direct free-kick inches wide in the opening minutes and Zidane saw his left-foot effort whistle past the post on the hour.

Barca were kept out by some truly world-class goalkeeping from Casillas. The 20-year-old got down to block a surprise effort from Patrick Kluivert on 72 minutes then produced an amazing reflex save from Gabri's point-blank diving header six minutes later.

As the visitors searched desperately for an equaliser in the closing minutes, Figo, on his 29th birthday, wrapped the game up right at the death. Claude Makelele's cross across the edge of the area was expertly dummied by Raúl to leave the Portuguese ace in acres of space, and he calmly slotted inside the right post.

The win is just the tonic for Real who jump to seventh place in the table. Barca slip down a place to third with 19 points.