By Press Association Sport Staff
Published: 01:04 GMT, 3 March 2019 | Updated: 01:05 GMT, 3 March 2019
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Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde refused to write off Real Madrid's La Liga challenge despite his side tightening their grip at the top of the table following a 1-0 El Clasico win at the Bernabeu.
Ivan Rakitic's fine first-half goal proved enough to give Valverde's men a second victory over their rivals in the space of four days, having comfortably come through their Copa Del Rey semi-final clash.
Tempers almost boiled over late in the first half when Lionel Messi looked to have been caught by a stray arm from Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde refused to write off Real Madrid's La Liga challenge
Real, though, created few decent openings and are now winless in their last six league games against their El Clasico rivals.
Barcelona have moved 12 points clear of Los Blancos and 10 ahead of second-place Atletico Madrid, who play Real Sociedad on Sunday.
However, Valverde is not about to put the champagne on ice just yet.
'We still have a whole world in front of us. We know Madrid can win a lot of consecutive games,
