Betting tips / Paul Bugeja / 22 April 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Real Madrid's win at the Camp Nou for the first time since May 2008 means three years of consecutive defeats for Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

Jose Mourinho has beaten Barcelona in 90 minutes for the first time since joining Real Madrid at the start of last season.

The three points his team gain from their 2-1 win take them seven clear of their great rivals at the top of La Liga with just four rounds of the season to go. Real are 1.01 to end Barca's -- and Pep Guardiola's -- run of three consecutive titles.

Mourinho signalled his intent to attack the champions by choosing not to include a third midfielder to protect his defence. Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo and Benzema were on the pitch from the start and all ten outfielders worked hard to knock Barca off their rhythm.

The home-side still dominated possession, of course, but created few chances. Real, the 6.0 outsiders at kick-off, took the lead after 17 minutes. From a corner, Pepe won a header that Valdes spilled. As Puyol hesitated, Khedira wrapped a leg around the defender and poked the ball home. It was only the German's second league goal for Real, but it was the team's 108th of the current La Liga campaign, taking them past their own all-time single-season scoring record.

More Barcelona possession followed, but the passing moves seemed slower than usual and the playmakers lacked imagination. The wide men, Tello and Alves, were prominent, but it wasn't until the 70th minute that Guardiola's team registered a shot on target.

Alexis Sanchez, who had come on just a couple of minutes earlier, was in the right place to strike as the ball ricocheted around Real's area after a (rare) incisive run by Messi.

At that point, Real were matched at 7.8 to win. It took them just three minutes to confirm the value of that bet as Ozil's pass sent Ronaldo through on goal. Valdes was too slow off his line and the Portuguese stroked the ball home.

The goal takes Ronaldo one clear of Messi at the top of La Liga's goalscoring chart. Having scored in four of the last five clasicos, the Real star is now a 1.62 favourite to win this year's Pichichi award.

Messi is now four clasicos without a goal - previously, his longest barren spell in the fixture was two games - and his quiet showing tonight will spark conversations around the world about how long he can remain the world's best player.