Ibrahimovic replaced Thierry Henry shortly into the second half and fired Barca in front less than five minutes later as he volleyed home Dani Alves' cross.

Barca went down to 10 men with almost half an hour still left, when Sergio Busquets was sent off for a second bookable offence.

However, Madrid later had Lassana Diarra sent off for a second yellow card.

Elsewhere, Roberto Soldado grabbed a hat-trick as Getafe blitzed 10-man Xerez with five goals in the space of 17 minutes either side of half-time to come from behind and hand out a 5-1 thrashing.

Artiles Aythami had headed Xerez in front in the 33rd minute, but the game turned dramatically in the space of two minutes just before half-time.

Soldado scored his first in the 44th minute and moments later, David Prieto hauled down Daniel Parejo to earn a red card and give Soldado the chance to put Getafe ahead from the penalty spot.

The assault continued in the second half as Parejo made it 3-1 in the 57th minute before Soldado sealed his treble moments later and Javi Casquero completed the scoring on the hour.

Tenerife came from 3-0 down with less than half an hour to go to claim a 3-3 draw at Real Valladolid and secure their first away point of the season.

The Pucela had appeared to be on their way to a convincing victory - and only their second at home this season - when two goals from Diego Costa and a penalty by Fabian Canobbio saw them ease into a 3-0 lead with 27 minutes to go.

However, two goals in eight minutes from Francisco Nino and Rodriguez Angel set up a nervy finish for Valladolid and Garcia Ayoze pounced four minutes from time to stun the hosts.

Athletic Bilbao continued their recent revival with 1 4-1 thumping of Almeria at a rain-drenched Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Two goals in four minutes from Javi Martinez and Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora just prior to half-time set Athletic on their way and second-half strikes from Fernando Llorente and Oscar De Marcos made it four before Almeria pulled a late goal back through Kalu Uche's penalty.

Javad Nekounam's first-half header earned Osasuna only their second away win of the season and condemned Real Zaragoza to a rare home defeat.

Nekounam got on the end of fellow Iranian Masoud Shojaei's 27th-minute free-kick to nod home what would prove to be the only goal of an entertaining game at La Romareda.

Deportivo La Coruna ground out a hard-fought 1-0 win at Racing Santander to move level on points with fourth-placed Valencia.

With just 14 minutes remaining, Albert Lopo struck to give the Galicians their eighth league success in 12 matches.