Full time: Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona


The referee blows his final whistle, Real Madrid claim a deserved win over Barcelona 

90+3' Ronaldo is booked in the dying seconds for kicking out at Alves. 

90' The referee signals three minutes of stoppage time. 

90' It's almost over. The three points are in the bag for Real, whose win will make the race more interesting at the top. 

89' The third and final substitution for Real. Modric is replaced with full-back Arvalo Arbeloa. 

86' Another substitution for Real. Benzema, who scored his side's third goal, makes way for defensive midfielder Sami Khedira. 

83' Real Madrid make their first substitution. Isco, one of the best performers of the night, is replaced with Asier Illarramendi. 

83' Barcelona look resigned to a loss. They are hardly mustering eny efforts. 

81' Real were about to successfuly complete another swift break but Ronaldo's eventual pass in the area is intercepted. He could have tries his luck himself instead of squaring the ball to James on the right hand side of the area. 

79' Messi turns Marcelo inside out on the right but his poor cross is collected by Casillas. Barcelona are struggling to even create any goal-scoring chances. 

75' Pique is robbed in his own area by Benzema. James gathers the ball but his shot is blocked by the defence. 

74' Real full-back Carvajal receives a yellow card for a challenge on Mathieu. 

72' Barcelona are forced to make their third substitution after Iniesta picks up an injury. He is replaced with Sergi Roberto. 

70' Benzema blasts his shot high over from the edge of the area. 

69' Suarez, who naturally looks short of match fitness, is replaced with winger Pedro as Barcelona seek to revitalize their attack. 

67' Real look likely to further extend the gap! 

63' Real Madrid are brilliant tonight. Their counter-attacking abilities are exemplary. 

61' Benzema finally scores to extend the gap! Iniesta gives away possession on the left, Isco pounces on the loose ball and feeds Ronaldo. The Portuguese finds the onrushing James who releases Benzema with a threaded ball and the Frenchman makes no mistake with a crisp finish. 

61' GOAL FOR REAL MADRID!!

60' Barcelona make their first substitution. Xavi, who is disappointing tonight, is replaced with Ivan Rakitic. 

59' Suarez is frustrated after having an appeal for a free kick waved away by the referee after falling under an apparent challenge from Ramos. 

56' At the other end, a blistering shot from Mathieu is parried by Casillas at the near post. 

55' A curling shot from James is saved by Bravo. Real look much better in the second half. 

53' Karim Benzema tries to release Ronaldo but his over-hit pass goes into the hands of Bravo. Real Madrid are too dangerous on the break. 

51' Portuguese defender Pepe puts Real in front with a firm header past Bravo following a corner. 

50' GOAL FOR REAL MADRID!!

50' In a Real Madrid counter attack, Benzema feeds the overlapping Ronaldo but his shot strikes Pique and goes out for a corner. 

47' Messi's ensuing free-kick strikes the wall.

47' Suarez, who is still struggling to make an impact, is fouled by Modric on the edge of the area. 

The second half is underway 

The referee blows his halftime whistle 

44' Rodriguez goes close for Real! He is picked out unmarked by a Marcelo cross but his poor header misses the target. 

41' Both sides look likely to score with four minutes remaining before halftime. 

38' The fourth yellow card for Barcelona! Andres Iniesta is booked for a challenge on Modric. 

37' A balanced tie so far, with both sides wasting some clear-cut chances. 

35' Ronaldo sends Claudio Bravo the wrong way from the spot to bring Real Madrid level. 

35' GOAL FOR REAL MADRID!!

34' This time there is no excape for Pique! He makes a sliding tackle to clear a low cross from Marcelon but uses his arm in doing so! 

34' PENALTY FOR REAL MADRID!!

33' Real Madrid have another penalty claim waved away by the referee. Ronaldo's header from a corner apparently hits the arm of defender Gerard Pique, 

30' Alves tries his luck from distance but his tame effort is collected by Casillas. 

28' Carvajal makes a superb interception to thwart Neymar from close range following a low cross from Messi. 

26' Ronaldo cuts inside his marker following a counter attack but falls under an apparent challenge from Busquets. The referee waves play on. 

24' Messi misses the chance to equal the all-time La Liga scoring record. 

23' Messi is guilty of a glaring miss!! A diagonal cross from Luis Suarez evades the defence and finds the Argentinean with the goal at his mercy but his effort is denied by Casillas!

22' Messi holds off his challenger but his low shot from the edge of the area is easily gathered by Casillas.

22' Both sides relatively ease off following the exciting opening. 

19' Ronaldo sends a low but weak shot from the edge of the area, which is easily collected by Bravo. 

18' Barcelona regain possession after a period of Real dominance. 

16' Neymar tries a showy faint with his backheel on the line but it goes wrong! 

14' Another yellow card given to Barcelona! This time it's Neymer, who catches Carvajal in the face with a flailing arm. 

12' What an exciting opening to the Clasico! A breathtaking end-to-end affair. 

11' Two goal-scoring chances for Karim Benzema in quick succession!! His backward header from a superb Ronaldo cross denied by the post. He gathers the rebound, holds off Mathieu but fires his shot against the crossbar. 

10' A chance for Real! Marcelo superbly skips past a couple of challengers down the left, cuts inside and sends a low cross but it goes begging as Mathieu clears the danger. 

9' Lionel Messi receives the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Toni Kroos. 

9' Ronaldo is as lively as ever but he still can't find a way through Barca's defence. 

6' Benzema wastes a chance to put Real level! He breaks clear following a long ball but his volley goes just wide after keeper Claudio Bravo rushes out. 

4' Neymar opens the scoring in superb fashion! He neatly controls a long ball on the edge of the area, cuts inside full-back Carvajal and central defender Pepe before placing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. 

4' GOAL FOR BARCELONA!!

3' Another right-wing cross from James is blocked by the defence as Real surge forward in the early stages. 

2' In Real Madrid's first foray forward after two minutes, Isco receives a cross from James Rodriguez at the far post but his cross is blocked by a defender. 


The match is underway

Starting line-ups:

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco, James Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema.

Barcelona: Claudio Bravo, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jeremy Mathieu, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez.

17:55 Both sides step onto the pitch amid a festive atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

17:30 Thirty minutes remaining before kick-off. Who will have the edge tonight? 

17:20  Real Madrid only miss Gareth Bale, with defenders Pepe and Ramos included in the starting XI after shrugging off their complaints.  

17:15 Luis Suarez spearheads Barcelona's attack as he makes his competitive debut following the end of his suspension. 

17:00 Should Ramos fail to recover in time, Pepe will partner Raphael Varane at the heart of the Real Madrid defense. 

16:45 Ronaldo has been the inspiration in that winning run with the Ballon d'or winner having scored a staggering 21 goals already this season.

16:15 After suffering back-to-back defeats in La Liga to Real Sociead and Atletico Madrid in the opening three weeks of the season, Real have embarked on an eight-game winning run in all competitions.

16:00 Barcelona go into the game still unbeaten in La Liga sitting at the top of the table four points clear of Real and a win would make them firm favourites to clinch the title.

15:30 The World Cup's top scorer James Rodrigiuez will get his first taste of El Clasico after his big money to Real from Monaco in the summer.

15:00 Real are likely to be without Wales winger and record signing Gareth Bale, who has a buttock muscle strain and missed the Liverpool game, while Spain centre back Sergio Ramos has been sidelined by a calf injury.

14: 30 A win for leaders Barca, who have yet to concede a goal in eight La Liga matches this term and won both fixtures last season, would stretch their advantage over third-placed Real to seven points.

13:45 Messi and Neymar have also been typically prolific, with the Argentine on seven goals and the Brazilian on eight.

13:15 After an early-season wobble, Real have been on scintillating form in recent weeks and Ronaldo has netted a jaw-dropping 15 goals in seven La Liga outings.

12:45 A win for leaders Barca, who have yet to concede a goal in eight La Liga matches this term and won both fixtures last season, would stretch their advantage over third-placed Real to seven points.

12:00 Suarez's temperament will be tested by the red-hot atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu, but even on his debut Suarez could be overshadowed by teammate Lionel Messi

11:30 Watched by millions around the world, meetings between the European heavyweights have, over the years, showcased the spectacular talents of the game's best, while occasionally being marred by ugly controversy

Venue:Santiago Bernabeu

Refree: Jesus Gil

Assistants: Angel Nevado, Miguel Martinez

Fourth official: Carlos Sanchez

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