Real, beaten already by their Catalonian nemesis this season, began the match hoping to quash the goalscoring talents of Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o and his Brazilian strike partner Ronaldinho.

By the end, Eto'o had scored one goal and the fed-up but football savvy Real fans ended up applauding Ronaldinho after his second of the night in the 77th minute.

The result leaves Barcelona on top of the league thanks to superior goal difference to Osasuna, who could only manage a scoreless draw away to Getafe.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard decided to field 18-year-old Argentine striker Lionel Messi for his starting line-up debut, leaving Ludovic Giuly on the sidelines, and his choice proved to be spot on as the teenager joined Eto'o and Ronaldinho in teasing the Real defence all night.

Rijkaard said after the match: "We closed up at the back, and with the speed we have available with our forwards we did Real some damage.

"That's why it looked so easy," added the Dutchman, who said he was happy with Messi's performance.

"He's a great player with extraordinary talent."

Eto'o began mentally torturing Real in the 10th minute when he shrugged off the attention of Rafael Marquez, and regained his composure to shoot at goal only to see his soft and off-target effort crawl along in front of goal.

It wasn't long however before Barcelona had silenced the stadium.

Eto'o was parked on the edge of the area when Messi came running through with the ball. The Cameroonian simply let him run through, took possession and ignored the outstretched boot of Roberto Carlos to shoot deftly past Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal.

Real were getting a few sniffs at the Barcelona goal, and just before the half hour Robinho found space on the right flank to waltz in and fire across only for the ball to be blocked then collected by Barca keeper Victor Valdes.

However Barcelona always looked more appealing up front, and Real were never so pleased to hear the whistle for half time, especially after Eto'o, after turning Ivan Helguera inside out, gave Real a pre-interval fright with a well-taken shot from 15 yards which Casillas did well to parry.

A half-time pep talk from Wanderley Luxemburgo hardly changed the hosts fortunes.

Barely had the match restarted than Barca set up camp on the edge of Real's area with passes being exchanged with precision between Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Messi.

On that occasion it left the Argentine teenager with a great scoring chance however he fluffed his shot into Casillas's side netting.

Moments later Xavi broke free along the edge of the area and drove an angled shot towards goal which sailed just past the outstretched palms of Casillas and out of play.

Real were starting to get frustrated, and it was beginning to tell.

When Ronaldinho sent Messi down the left flank and Eto'o was waiting for the ball in front of goal, a flick from Roberto Carlos left the Cameroonian tumbling to the ground.

Ten minutes later Ronaldinho doubled Barcelona's lead after a mazy run down the left flank which left Casillas gesturing in disbelief at his teammates.

The Brazilian's dribbling proved too much for Real's players, three of whom he sailed past on his way to sending the easiest of shots past the apparently listless Casillas.

The goal appeared to briefly spur Real into action and Zinedine Zidane was given a chance to pivot into the Barcelona area and turn and shoot.

Barcelona were not finished however.

Eto'o went on a run with Ronaldinho in what appeared to be another sure goal but despite being in a decent position to shoot the Cameroonian selflessly crossed low for his Brazilian team-mate, with only a last gasp run into the area by Michel Salgado blocking the through ball.

A brief moment of respite for Real came a minute later as Ronaldo scored for the hosts, only to be ruled for offside.

Less than a minute later Ronaldinho made Real pay again.