LA LIGA: IBRA SETTLES EL CLASICO!!!

BARCELONA, Spain (AP): Scoring the winner in Barcelona's 1-0 victory over Real Madrid on his Spanish 'clasico' debut Sunday was the perfect way for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return from an injury layoff.

Daniel Alves found Ibrahimovic at the far post with a lofted cross in the 56th minute and the Sweden striker never broke stride as he volleyed past Iker Casillas with his left foot in the high-profile game between Spain's arch rivals.

"It's a very happy moment because it was my first 'clasico'," Ibrahimovic said.

"It was a fantastic atmosphere, I'm really happy."

Ibrahimovic beat Casillas at the near post only four minutes after coming for Thierry Henry, playing his first game in three weeks before nearly 100,000 fans at the Camp Nou stadium.

"When you come into a game from the bench it's not easy because the first sprint that you do, you are very tired because your pulse is like 200," the 28-year-old Swede said.

"But Dani gave me a good cross, I just tried to hit the ball and it went in."

Ibrahimovic's eighth league goal - he trails only Valencia striker David Villa by two - also allowed Barcelona to overtake Madrid and move two points clear at the top of the standings.

"It was very important because we played at home and now we are first in the competition and we should bring this to the next game," the former Ajax player said.

"I'm very happy that I came in because I had an injury for 10-15 days and had a hamstring (problem). But it went well."

Although the victory guarantees nothing for the defending champion's chase for another league title, Ibrahimovic's strike secured a valuable win against the new-look Madrid - which featured Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.

"I think Madrid also came here to win, (while) some come to defend," said Ibrahimovic, Barcelona's record signing after arriving from Inter Milan in a swap for Samuel Eto'o that also included $66 million (euro45 million) going to the Italians.

In terms of classic derby matches, Ibrahimovic said this one was tops.

"Inter-Milan is also a big derby with a lot of feelings, a lot of emotions. (But) I think this one is more international, bigger than Inter-Milan, with more people watching the game," Ibrahimovic said.