Leo Messi and Pedro Rodriguez scored to give FC Barcelona a 2-0 win in Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, taking them to the top of the Spanish Primera Liga table.

FC Barcelona beats Real Madrid 2-0. [Chen Haitong/Xinhua]

The victory leaves Barca three points clear of Real Madrid and with the added advantage of superior individual goal difference.

The result was no less than Barca deserved after outplaying their rivals for the majority of the match.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola surprised many with his starting lineup, playing just two strikers and pushing right back Dani Alves into an advanced role on the right of midfield with Carles Puyol covering behind him.

Real Madrid meanwhile continued to show faith in Fernando Gago in a central midfield role with Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

With the game likely to decide the destiny of the Primera Liga title, both teams were clearly nervous in the opening minutes in front of a packed house in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Messi went down in the Madrid penalty area after 12 minutes, but his appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Mejuto Gonzalez.

Barcelona was looking to control the ball, but struggling to find space with Real Madrid pressing forward to close them down, while looking for the pace of Ronaldo to hurt their rivals.

Chances were few and far between, although Xabi Alonso fired well wide from 25 yards for Madrid.

It was down to Messi to break the deadlock. The Argentinean, who had scored four goals against Arsenal in midweek, had suffered a night of continued fouls, but was the first to see Xavi's smart chip. Messi controlled the ball, turned inside Raul Albiol and beat Iker Casillas with a right foot shot.

Higuain should have done better than fire high and wide on 40 minutes after Pique misread a long Ramos pass, while Marcelo wasted a good chance to launch a counter attack before the break.

The second half started with Real Madrid looking to take the game to Barca, but Victor Valdes was equal to shots from Marcelo and Ronaldo.

After 55 minutes Xavi was again the creator for Barcelona with another through ball for Pedro. The youngster latched onto his pass before coolly beating Casillas with a low shot.

Valdes then produced fine saves from Van der Vaart, who was clean through on goal and also from Ronaldo, who again failed to score against Barca.

At the other end Casillas was at his best to twice deny Messi, but the 2-0 final score made clear just which is the best team in Spain.