Fede Valverde gave Real the dream start with a fifth-minute strike, before Ansu Fati equalised just three minutes later from close range.
But Sergio Ramos converted a 63rd-minute penalty that he won after VAR intervened, before Luka Modric rounded off a deserved victory in the final seconds of normal time with the calmest of finishes.
In an entertaining game, Thibaut Courtois was alert to deny Lionel Messi before half-time but Barca remain 10th and are six points behind Real with a game in hand.
How Real bounced back to beat Barca
After a nightmare week for Zinedine Zidane, Real started the clash in the best way possible. Karim Benzema's through-ball was perfect for Valverde, who took advantage of lackadaisical Barca defending and finished beyond Neto.
Player ratings
Barcelona: Neto 7, Dest 7, Pique 6, Lenglet 5, Alba 6, Busquets 5, De Jong 6, Pedri 5, Coutinho 5, Fati 7, Messi 6,
Subs: Trincao N / A, Griezmann N / A, Trincao N / A, Braithwaite N / A
Real Madrid: Courtois 7, Nacho 6, Varane 6, Ramos 8, Mendy 7, Valverde 7, Casemiro 7, Kroos 6, Asensio 6, Benzema 6, Vinicius 6
Subs: Vazquez 6, Modric 7, Rodrygo N / A
Man of the match: Ramos
But that joy was short-lived as Barca sliced through the Real defence with their first attack. Jordi Alba bent his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and carried the ball into the box, where he squared for Fati who had a simple finish.
Philippe Coutinho and Messi had already tried their luck from range when Messi saw Courtois produce a moment of magic after 24 minutes. The Argentine used deft feet to beat Ramos in the box and fired in a shot to the near post with his right foot. Courtois was alert and threw himself across the goal to push the ball away.
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