Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 at the Camp Nou on Saturday with a video assistant referee-awarded penalty crucial in their victory.
Madrid were ahead after just five minutes when Karim Benzema played in Fede Valverde who scored past Neto.
The lead lasted just three minutes as Lionel Messi sent Jordi Alba clear on to a long pass and he crossed for Ansu Fati to score.
But Madrid re-took the lead when Sergio Ramos slotted his penalty beneath Neto after a VAR-reviewed shirt pull on him from Clement Lenglet on 63 minutes.
Luka Modric, who had come on as a substitute, scored the third for Madrid in the final minute.
It was the perfect reaction from Real Madrid after two straight home defeats which put coach Zinedine Zidane under pressure.
Keeper Thibaut Courtois said: "It was not easy playing against Cadiz last weekend after the international break and conceding an early goal we could not get back into the game. We then had a hard game facing Shakhtar in Europe.
"But here we had the intensity that the manager wanted from us. It was a bit back and forth in the second half but we got the penalty and we held out for the win.
"We have to fight in each game when we wear this shirt. Today we did that. This is only three points but it gives us an awful lot of confidence."
Barcelona full back Sergino Dest, making his first appearance in a Clasico and becoming the first American to play in the fixture, said: "I don't know if it was a penalty. They had chances and we had chances but they were may be a bit sharper in their finishing."
Barcelona will feel this was a great opportunity missed against a Madrid side that came into the match after two terrible performances.
After they got themselves level through teenager Fati who, still a week short of his 18th birthday, was a real threat throughout, they could have taken the lead.
Ramos decisive once more
In the first half Messi swerved past Ramos only to see his shot saved by Courtois at his near post.
And after the break Fati missed one chance with Messi better placed to receive a pass. Philippe Coutinho also headed a Fati cross into the side netting.
Madrid made them pay for the misses with the ever-reliable Ramos decisive once more.
Champions Real top the table while Barca, after defeat in coach Ronald Koeman's first Clasico, are 10th albeit with a game in hand.
"I don’t think it was a penalty," Koeman complained. "VAR in Spain only acts against Barcelona."
Atletico to the second place
Later Saturday night Atletico Madrid moved into second place with a 2-0 win over Betis.
Marcos Llorente scored a minute into the second half from a tight angle and, after Betis had Martin Montoya sent off, Luis Suarez added a second in injury time.
Elsewhere Eibar beat Sevilla 1-0, and Osasuna were victors over Athletic by the same scoreline.
