Neymar was sent off as Barcelona were shocked 2-0 by Malaga on Saturday.

Malaga produced a battling display as Jose Miguel Gonzalez's men secured a second successive victory to move them further away from the relegation scrap.

Sandro netted on the break against his former club, with substitute Rodriguez Jony adding a late second after Neymar had seen red after picking up a needless second caution.

As a result, it was Real who edged three points clear with a match still in hand ahead of El Clasico on April 23.

On Neymar's dismissal, Barca coach Luis Enrique said: "I think the interpretation of yellow cards is special. We have to take a lot care in these types of games because I think there were ugly challenges from behind which clearly deserved bookings; other things such as tying your boots… If we book people for this, we have to book people for everything.

"It's curious that a team like us that doesn't usually kick people get so many yellow cards in such an incomprehensible manner. Then there are players on the other team that during the game commit fouls and don't get any cards. It's curious, but we're used to it."