Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano hailed their performance for victory over Real Madrid. Barca edged Real 2-1 in the El Clasico.

"Against Madrid, if you sit deep, they take your land and make you suffer," said Mascherano, admitting Real had bossed the first-half.

"We started well, controlling the game and scoring our goal, but we allowed more space to Madrid.

"In the second half we were more orderly and could convert the goal and then play as we like."

Mascherano added: "This club has always been characterized by a model and we respect that, but football has many phases in a game and you must know how to suffer and use strategy.

"We did that and were stronger after halftime."