Full time: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona
90+2 The referee blows the final whislte! It's Real 0-4 Barca.
90' Busquets yellow-carded after a foul on Benzema.
89' Bravo pulls off another magnificent save from a close-range Ronaldo header!!
88' UNBELIEVABLE!!! An unmarked Pique misses the target from inside the area with no one but the keeper before him!
87' Messi strikes high following a square pass from Neymar between Real's defenders inside the box.
85' RED CARD!! Isco red-carded by the ref following a cynical foul on Neymar..
83' Carvajal cautioned following a harsh foul on Neymar.
81' What a superb save!! Bravo excellently denies a header from Benzema from close range!
79' Benzema flagged for offside..
77' Munir El-Haddadi comes in for Iniesta.
73' Suarez breaks clear following a silky through ball from Messi before dinking the ball past Navas! It's Barca 4-0 now!!
73' GOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Suarez makes it four!!!
70' Ronaldo adjudged to have been in an offside position before seeing his strike hit the bar.
68' WHAT A CHANCE!!! A counter-attacking Real sees Bale set up a through-on-goal Ronaldo whose effort is denied by keeper Bravo!!
66' A dangerous shot by Messi from inside the box deflects off a Varane...
64' A spell of pressure by Real but still unable to threaten...
60' Isco sees a deflected shot go wide...
59' Marcelo makes way as Carvajal is wheeled on.
56' Messi comes off the bench as Roberto makes way.
55' Messi is going to be introduced now, as Isco replaces James for Real.
53' A stunning strike from Iniesta following a lay-off from Neymar finds the top corner of the net!! The Spaniard surely deserved the goal for such an impressive performance.
53' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Iniesta makes it three!!!!
52' Neymar sees a delightful free kick superbly kept away by Keylor Navas! Excellent from the Real keeper.
50' Ramos booked after a fierce foul on Roberto...a free kick from a golden position for Barcelona.
48' James strikes from outside the box, and keeper Bravo tips away for corner.
47' What a chance! Marcelo runs towards goal in behind Alves but hits the sidenetting after bursting into the box!!
The second half begins...
45+2 The ref blows the half time whistle...
45+2 WHAT A CHANCE!!!! Marcelo clears Suarez's effort off the line before Rakitic again missed!
43' Barca bossing possession now, with Real's mifield badly struggling!
39' The sparkling Iniesta plays Neymar in as the Brazilian sprints in behind to go through on goal before slotting past keeper Navas.
39' GOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! NEYMAR!!!
38' Bravo spills a Marcelo cross that the Barca defense manage to eventually clear away! That was dangerous!
34' A rash tacklen by Modric but the Croatian escapes a booking.
30' Dani Alves goes into the referee's book after fouling Ronaldo to halt a Real counter attack.
28' James hits a great shot from outside the area but keeper Bravo blocks his effort!
27' Mascherano forced off due to injury as Mathieu replaces him.
25' What a chance!! Roberto misses the target near the penalty spot!
24' Neymar plays the free kick towards the far post but Navas saves.
23' The first yellow card of the game goes to James after tripping Neymar near the penalty area.
20' Suarez wins a foul from Varane after pulling him wide towards the touchlines.
17' Ronaldo has a penalty shout after being allegedly brought down by Alves inside the box but the referee gives a foul against Real.
14' A brilliant through ball by Iniesta for Roberto who runs in behind Marcelo but Rakitic eventually blasts high.
10' Roberto sets up Suarez who slides past the keeper from inside the box!! It's Real 0, Barca 1.
10' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Suarez opens the scoring!!!
7' Neymar again hits wide from the edge of the box after finding himself in acres of space!
4' Nemar capitalizes on the gaps left in behind Danilo but sees an awful shot go wide after cutting inside.
3' Real win a corner following a spell of pressure on the Catalans.
1' A strong start to the game, with Suarez falling to the ground after allegedly being fouled by Ramos.
The match gets underway...
19:10 Bale returns to lead the frontline after a lenghty absence due to injury.
19:05 Benitez starts with an attack-minded starting XI, with Casemiro and Carvajal on the bench, as Kroos and Modric occupy the center of mifield and Danilo fielded in the right-back slot.
19:00 Messi starts on the bench tonight, as Neymar, Suarez and Sergio Roberto lead the frontline.
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Keylor Navas, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Ronaldo, Kroos, Benzema, James, Bale, Marcelo, Modric, Danilo
Barcelona: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Alba, Mascherano, Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Sergio Roberto, Luis Suarez, Neymar
18:30 Messi scored 58 goals in all competitions last season for Barca in their Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble-winning campaign.
18:15 "Let's hope he can play, whether that's from the start or not, because he's an essential player for us," Iniesta said on his club's official website. "We nevertheless have a competitive enough squad to compete with or without him in the team."
18:00 Even if Messi does not make the match, Barca captain Andres Iniesta has reminded Madrid that his team will still be formidable opponents as they look to extend their three-point lead over Rafael Benitez's men at the top of the table.
17:45 Asked who will decide if Messi is involved, Enrique added: "It's the player who does or doesn't have confidence. We'll need to wait a bit. But with or without him, it's all good news."
17:30 "He's been feeling good since he came back. He's recovered and he's in the group dynamic. It's clear he won't be 100 per cent physically because of the time he's been out, but he's so important it gives us security to have him back."
17:15 "Whether Messi plays or not, the best news is that he is fit again," the Barcelona boss told a press conference.
16:45 A draw would favour Atletico Madrid, who would climb above Real into second and close to within two points of Barca with a win at Real Betis on Sunday.
16:00 Argentina captain Messi, the all-time top scorer in 'Clasicos' with 21 goals, has not played since injuring a knee at the end of September but returned to training on Monday
15:30 Barcelona are coming into the game in better shape and talisman Lionel Messi looks likely to return from injury and rejoin in-form South American compatriots Neymar and Luis Suarez in attack
15:00 Around 80,000 fans will be packed into Real's giant arena and some 500 million more will be watching around the world
14:30 Francisco Martinez Vazquez, Spain's secretary of state for security, said on Wednesday there would be at least 1,000 police, twice as many as usual
14:00 Spain's top sports official has said there is no reason to postpone the 'Clasico' following the cancellation of several games since the Paris attacks, including Spain's friendly against Belgium in Brussels on Tuesday
13:30 A Barca victory would fire them six points clear at the top after 12 matches and increase pressure on Real coach Rafa Benitez, whose first season in charge of the world's richest club by income is threatening to come off the rails
12:30 Leaders and champions Barca, chasing a sixth La Liga title in eight years, take a three-point lead over second-placed Real into the clash at the Bernabeu, where security will be ramped up after the events in the French capital.
11:30 Tensions will be running higher than ever when Real Madrid host bitter rivals Barcelona for the opening La Liga 'Clasico' of the season on Saturday with Europe on high alert following last week's deadly attacks in Paris
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)
Referee: David Fernandez
Assistant referees: Raul Cabanero, Diego Barbero
Fourth official: Aitor Gorostegui
League positions:
Real Madrid (2nd with 24 points)
Barcelona (1st with 27 points)
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