Real Madrid climbed back above Barcelona to the top of La Liga when goals from former Liverpool pair Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa helped them to a stirring 3-2 comeback win over Atletico Madrid Monday.

A 1-0 victory for Barca at fourth-placed Real Mallorca Sunday put the champions three clear but Real responded to draw level on 74 points with their archrivals and reclaim top spot on goal difference.

Atletico, who have not won a Madrid derby in more than 10 years, led 1-0 at the break thanks to a curled effort from former Real player Jose Antonio Reyes, before Alonso, Arbeloa and Gonzalo Higuain struck to put the hosts 3-1 ahead.

Diego Forlan pulled one back from the penalty spot with just over 20 minutes left after Alonso handled at a corner but Real comfortably held on to claim the three points.

With nine matches remaining, the top two are 21 points ahead of third-placed Valencia and Real host Barca in the potentially decisive "Clasico" in two weeks.

The home fans unfurled an enormous banner shortly before kickoff at the Bernabeu showing a collection of Real ghouls standing menacingly over a young Atletico supporter cowering in bed and the slogan in giant letters: "Your worst nightmare".

The match initially looked liked turning into a bad dream for the hosts thanks to Reyes, who helped Real win the title with two goals on the final day of the 2006-07 season while on loan from Arsenal.

Portugal midfielder Tiago drove toward the box and fed Sergio Aguero, who flicked the ball wide to Reyes to curl a delicate shot past Iker Casillas into the corner of the net.

Real piled on the pressure after the break and Alonso put them level in the 49th with a close-range header.

The midfielder's cross-field pass sent Arbeloa clear to put Real in front six minutes later and a defensive lapse let Higuain in for a third in the 62nd, the Argentina forward's 23rd of the season.

An attempted Tiago clearance hit teammate Paulo Assuncao and Higuain stroked the ball past De Gea to close within two of top scorer Lionel Messi.

Alonso inexplicably threw up an arm to give away the penalty in the 68th and Forlan gave Casillas no chance with a powerful low drive.