Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the La Liga clash between eternal rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou.
Tonight will be the 231st installment of El Clasico in all competitions and the 172nd time that these two fierce rivals have locked horns in Spainish LA Liga.
Barcelona will enter the match off the back of a 39-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which has helped them open up a six-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid in the table.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are currently 10 points behind Barcelona in third position and defeat this evening would end their already-slim hopes of winning the title this season.
Official Line up
BARCA: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale
Real Madrid dutifully record a win in the El Clasico against league leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou! Pique's goal for Barcelona proved insufficient as goals from Benzema and Cristiano sealed the three points for the Los Blancos! That would be all for tonight, we hope to see you again next time.
90 min+3 FULL-TIME: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
90 min+2 CHANCE! Casemiro blocks Turan's close-range strike!
90 min+2 We are into the second of two additional minutes at Camp Nou.
90 min REAL MADRID SUB! Lucas Vasquez replaces Bale for the visitors.
88 min Barcelona will continue to press forward late on, but Real Madrid have been so impressive in this second period and it does appear that Barcelona's long unbeaten run will come to an end.
86 min Oh my word! Real Madrid take the lead in the 85th minute as Ronaldo controls a high Bale cross before firing his effort home from inside the box! What scenes at Camp Nou here!
85 min GOAL! Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
84 min No surprises as Ramos is given his second yellow card for a terrible challenge on Suarez!
83 min RED CARD! RAMOS!
82 min CROSSBAR! Ronaldo rattles the crossbar for Real Madrid as the visitors come close once again. Barcelona cannot seem to deal with the intensity at the moment!
80 min GOAL DISALLOWED! Bale heads past Bravo and Real Madrid look to have taken the lead, but the referee blows for a foul on Alba! It is very, very harsh! What a call from the official!
80 min Ronaldo is still full of running for Real Madrid in the final third, but the attacker has another strike blocked as Mascherano races across to make the challenge. End-to-end football as Suarez then fires wide of the post down the other end. We could be heading for some final 10 minutes here!
78 min REAL MADRID SUB! Jese Rodriguez comes in for Benzema.
76 min Little under 15 minutes of this second period remaining and as it stands, not too much is happening in either half of the field. Both teams, unsurprisingly, are a little bit cautious at the moment.
74 min BARCELONA SUB! Turan for Rakitic is the first change of the match tonight.
72 min There is a strange atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment, with the home supporters fairly quiet despite the tension on the field. You just get the feeling that there is another major incident to come tonight, but that could be a red card rather than a goal. A half-chance comes for Barcelona as Messi heads down to Suarez inside the box, but his strike is blocked and ultimately drops behind.
69 min SAVE! Bravo gets down to keep out a low strike from Bale
68 min Little over 20 minutes of this La Liga contest remaining and in truth, both managers would be pretty happy if it finished 1-1. Real Madrid are out of the title race and Barcelona would move seven points clear of second-place Atletico if it remained all square in the final stage of this match.
66 min I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals this evening as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. It has been a brilliant last 10 minutes or so at Camp Nou.
63 min We are all square here! Real Madrid level the scores in the 62nd minute as Benzema brilliantly volleys into the back of the net after a cross from Kroos had been blocked into the path of the Frenchman. It was not quite an over-head kick, but along those lines for the returning striker!
62 min GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid (Benzema)
63 min We are entering the stage of the match where both managers will be considering changes, but Zidane's need is greater than that of Enrique. James Rodriguez and Isco are two options for Real.
61 min Little under 30 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and as it stands, Barcelona are moving 13 points clear of third-place Real Madrid in the table. This is more than three points though, it would be another massive blow to Real Madrid, who just cannot beat their rivals at the moment.
58 min BOOKING! Rakitic (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Marcelo.
57 min Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 56th minute as Pique thumps a header past Navas from close range. It was a super corner from Rakitic and Pique was above everyone to power home!
56 min GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid (Pique)
55 min SAVE! Super goalkeeping from Navas as the Costa Rican flies across his goal to keep out a chipped effort from Messi. Neymar and Suarez were both involved in the move and it was the first time that Real Madrid have been seriously opened up since the interval here.
53 min A deflected strike from Modric threatens to unnerve Bravo in the Barcelona goal, but in the end, it is a fairly routine save for the Chilean. Still goalless with 53 minutes on the clock in Catalonia.
52 min Alves has just thrown himself to the ground inside the Barcelona box and it appears that Ramos swung his elbow towards the head of the Brazilian. What on earth is Ramos doing there!
51 min Bale and Ronaldo are both performing their defensive duties for Real Madrid at the moment and as a result, Barcelona are finding it difficult in the final third. The visitors manage to break with Benzema, but the Frenchman cannot evade Pique, who stands tall to make a fine block.
49 min Messi once again takes the resulting free kick, but his effort was always too high.
47 min Ramos dives in on Suarez and the Barcelona players want another yellow card, but the referee is not interested. Ramos seems to have got away with another one there - good grief Sergio!
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise at this stage of events. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind for this half of action.
46 min RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Will we have a breakthrough at Camp Nou? Let's find out! Real Madrid resume the action tonight...
The referee brings the first half to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Both sides have had chances to make the breakthrough, but Suarez missed Barcelona's best opportunity when it looked easier to score, before Benzema fired Real Madrid's best opening over the crossbar late in the half!
45 min+2 HALF-TIME: Barcelona 0-0 Real Madrid
45 min There is one minute of first-half stoppage time. Rakitic takes aim from around 20 yards out, but the Croatia international dips a long-range attempt well wide of the far upright.
45 min Pepe gets up inside the Barcelona box and Ramos looks to turn home from close range, but the centre-back is penalised for a high foot and the home side have a free kick in their own box.
43 min CHANCE! Comfortably Real Madrid's best chance of the first period as Benzema finds all sorts of space inside the Barcelona box, but his effort is into the stands - wow!
43 min You just get the feeling that something is waiting to explode here - a sending off, a goal. Something of that nature. This game is always on the edge and the next few minutes could be vital as we approach the half-time interval. Alves tries his luck on the run, but his effort whips over Navas's net!
41 min Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments and the atmosphere inside the stadium is a reflection of that. Little bit quiet at the moment as we approach the break here.
39 min Little bit naughty from Messi as the Argentine seems to catch Casemiro late and Ramos has something to say to the referee. Now Sergio, you have already been booked - no trouble please!
37 min Iniesta feed a low pass into Suarez and the striker attempts to turn the ball into Neymar, but Real Madrid again have good numbers back and the danger is cleared. Clear chances have been few and far between in this match, but Real Madrid are certainly more comfortable than they were.
34 min Messi sends Neymar racing away down the left, but Pepe is across to stop the Brazilian and Real Madrid can launch a break of their own. Ronaldo cuts a low cross towards Bale, but Alba is across to clear and the end-to-end period of the match continues. Still goalless with 34 on the clock here.
DID YOU KNOW? The biggest-ever El Clasico victory came in 1943, when Real Madrid recorded an 11-1 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Real Madrid also beat Barcelona 8-2 in the 1934-35 La Liga season, which is the highest league score between the pair. Not sure that score repeats itself tonight though!
32 min It has been better from Real Madrid in the last few minutes, but they are still giving away some sloppy balls and Barcelona do not need encouragement to drive forward. Messi continues to come deep and pick up possession and Casemiro is not really going with the Argentine at the moment.
30 min... Ronaldo takes the set piece, but his effort was always moving just over Bravo's net.
30 min Real Madrid have a free kick in Ronaldo territory here. Chance to test Bravo...
29 min BOOKING! Mascherano (Barcelona) is booked for bringing Bale to the deck.
27 min BOOKING! Suarez (Barcelona) is booked for a strong challenge on Pepe.
25 min SAVE! Ronaldo tests Bravo from distance, but the Chilean makes the save! Real Madrid keep the ball alive and Bale strikes from inside the box, but his effort was always over!
24 min PENALTY SHOUT! Messi dances past a couple of challenges before attempting to move past Ramos, but according to the referee, the centre-back got enough on the ball! The home supporters want a penalty and so does Luis Enrique, but the official was quick to shake his head.
23 min Suarez fires over following another smart piece of combination play with Neymar up top.
22 min Real Madrid just cannot find a route out at the moment as Barcelona continue to dominate possession of the ball. The only thing missing for the home side is a goal, but they are opening up the away side each time that they break forward. Surely only a matter of time at Camp Nou!
20 min SAVE! Navas gets down to keep out Rakitic's low strike as Barcelona continue to create in the final third. Super low stop from the Costa Rican, who must have seen it very, very late!
19 min CLOSE! Messi's free kick just misses the crossbar!
18 min BOOKING! Carvajal (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Iniesta.
16 min Super defending from Pique as the Barcelona centre-back manages to block a low cross from Bale, which seemed to be heading for Ronaldo at the far post. Still goalless with 16 minutes on the clock.
15 min Real Madrid are keeping a very high line at the moment, but it does seem very risky due to the pace that Barcelona possess in the final third of the field. Suarez has already had a wonderful chance to make the breakthrough and there is space for Neymar in wide positions as Real Madrid press forward.
13 min Plenty for the referee to get his teeth into at the moment as late challenges continue to arrive in the middle of the park. I suspect that we have not seen the last of the cards in this match!
10 min BOOKING! Ramos (Real Madrid) is booked for dissent.
10 min CHANCE! What a miss that is! Barcelona have a golden chance to take the lead as Neymar runs away from Ramos before delivering a wonderful low cross into Suarez, but the striker cannot find a touch and the chance is gone! It is a quite incredible miss from the Uruguay international!
10 min It is almost as if Barcelona are playing a diamond formation in midfield - Busquets at the bottom and Messi at the top. Real Madrid, on the other hand, are playing a straight 4-3-3 formation. Rakitic comes close to sliding a pass into the path of Suarez, but Navas is quick to claim the ball.
8 min As expected, Real Madrid's players are being booed with early touch here and it is Barcelona that have seen most of the ball in the opening eight minutes. Zidane is not too happy about something as he goes a little bonkers on the touchline, but the referee has been a little kind to his team so far!
6 min... instead Neymar finds Iniesta, who looks for the run of Messi, but Ramos clears down-field.
6 min It is going to be a long, difficult night for the referee as Casemiro bundles Rakitic to the deck and Barcelona win a free kick in a wide, but dangerous position. Messi stands over the set piece...
5 min I just hope that we are not talking about the referee after tonight's match, which is too often the case in clashes between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Suarez once again threatens to break clear of the Real Madrid defensive line and the offside flag is very kind to the visitors - Suarez looked on!
3 min Pepe and Busquets have just clashed in the Real Madrid half and it was a heavy challenge from Pepe to say the least! Both players felt it and Pepe takes a while to return to his feet here!
2 min... both teams will surely want to have a look at each other in the opening five, 10 minutes here. But as expected, it is Barcelona in control of the early possession. You just sense that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be crucial. Real Madrid have dropped off a touch from kickoff here.
0 min KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. It is Barcelona against Real Madrid and as expected, the atmosphere inside the stadium is magical. Who will triumph tonight? It is the home side that kick things off at Camp Nou...
Real Madrid dutifully record a win in the El Clasico against league leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou! Pique's goal for Barcelona proved insufficient as goals from Benzema and Cristiano sealed the three points for the Los Blancos! That would be all for tonight, we hope to see you again next time.
90 min+3 FULL-TIME: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
90 min+2 CHANCE! Casemiro blocks Turan's close-range strike!
90 min+2 We are into the second of two additional minutes at Camp Nou.
90 min REAL MADRID SUB! Lucas Vasquez replaces Bale for the visitors.
88 min Barcelona will continue to press forward late on, but Real Madrid have been so impressive in this second period and it does appear that Barcelona's long unbeaten run will come to an end.
86 min Oh my word! Real Madrid take the lead in the 85th minute as Ronaldo controls a high Bale cross before firing his effort home from inside the box! What scenes at Camp Nou here!
85 min GOAL! Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
84 min No surprises as Ramos is given his second yellow card for a terrible challenge on Suarez!
83 min RED CARD! RAMOS!
82 min CROSSBAR! Ronaldo rattles the crossbar for Real Madrid as the visitors come close once again. Barcelona cannot seem to deal with the intensity at the moment!
80 min GOAL DISALLOWED! Bale heads past Bravo and Real Madrid look to have taken the lead, but the referee blows for a foul on Alba! It is very, very harsh! What a call from the official!
78 min REAL MADRID SUB! Jese Rodriguez comes in for Benzema.
76 min Little under 15 minutes of this second period remaining and as it stands, not too much is happening in either half of the field. Both teams, unsurprisingly, are a little bit cautious at the moment.
74 min BARCELONA SUB! Turan for Rakitic is the first change of the match tonight.
72 min There is a strange atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment, with the home supporters fairly quiet despite the tension on the field. You just get the feeling that there is another major incident to come tonight, but that could be a red card rather than a goal. A half-chance comes for Barcelona as Messi heads down to Suarez inside the box, but his strike is blocked and ultimately drops behind.
69 min SAVE! Bravo gets down to keep out a low strike from Bale
68 min Little over 20 minutes of this La Liga contest remaining and in truth, both managers would be pretty happy if it finished 1-1. Real Madrid are out of the title race and Barcelona would move seven points clear of second-place Atletico if it remained all square in the final stage of this match.
66 min I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals this evening as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. It has been a brilliant last 10 minutes or so at Camp Nou.
63 min We are all square here! Real Madrid level the scores in the 62nd minute as Benzema brilliantly volleys into the back of the net after a cross from Kroos had been blocked into the path of the Frenchman. It was not quite an over-head kick, but along those lines for the returning striker!
62 min GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid (Benzema)
63 min We are entering the stage of the match where both managers will be considering changes, but Zidane's need is greater than that of Enrique. James Rodriguez and Isco are two options for Real.
61 min Little under 30 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and as it stands, Barcelona are moving 13 points clear of third-place Real Madrid in the table. This is more than three points though, it would be another massive blow to Real Madrid, who just cannot beat their rivals at the moment.
58 min BOOKING! Rakitic (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Marcelo.
57 min Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 56th minute as Pique thumps a header past Navas from close range. It was a super corner from Rakitic and Pique was above everyone to power home!
56 min GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid (Pique)
55 min SAVE! Super goalkeeping from Navas as the Costa Rican flies across his goal to keep out a chipped effort from Messi. Neymar and Suarez were both involved in the move and it was the first time that Real Madrid have been seriously opened up since the interval here.
53 min A deflected strike from Modric threatens to unnerve Bravo in the Barcelona goal, but in the end, it is a fairly routine save for the Chilean. Still goalless with 53 minutes on the clock in Catalonia.
52 min Alves has just thrown himself to the ground inside the Barcelona box and it appears that Ramos swung his elbow towards the head of the Brazilian. What on earth is Ramos doing there!
51 min Bale and Ronaldo are both performing their defensive duties for Real Madrid at the moment and as a result, Barcelona are finding it difficult in the final third. The visitors manage to break with Benzema, but the Frenchman cannot evade Pique, who stands tall to make a fine block.
49 min Messi once again takes the resulting free kick, but his effort was always too high.
47 min Ramos dives in on Suarez and the Barcelona players want another yellow card, but the referee is not interested. Ramos seems to have got away with another one there - good grief Sergio!
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise at this stage of events. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind for this half of action.
46 min RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Will we have a breakthrough at Camp Nou? Let's find out! Real Madrid resume the action tonight...
The referee brings the first half to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Both sides have had chances to make the breakthrough, but Suarez missed Barcelona's best opportunity when it looked easier to score, before Benzema fired Real Madrid's best opening over the crossbar late in the half!
45 min+2 HALF-TIME: Barcelona 0-0 Real Madrid
45 min There is one minute of first-half stoppage time. Rakitic takes aim from around 20 yards out, but the Croatia international dips a long-range attempt well wide of the far upright.
45 min Pepe gets up inside the Barcelona box and Ramos looks to turn home from close range, but the centre-back is penalised for a high foot and the home side have a free kick in their own box.
43 min CHANCE! Comfortably Real Madrid's best chance of the first period as Benzema finds all sorts of space inside the Barcelona box, but his effort is into the stands - wow!
43 min You just get the feeling that something is waiting to explode here - a sending off, a goal. Something of that nature. This game is always on the edge and the next few minutes could be vital as we approach the half-time interval. Alves tries his luck on the run, but his effort whips over Navas's net!
41 min Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments and the atmosphere inside the stadium is a reflection of that. Little bit quiet at the moment as we approach the break here.
39 min Little bit naughty from Messi as the Argentine seems to catch Casemiro late and Ramos has something to say to the referee. Now Sergio, you have already been booked - no trouble please!
37 min Iniesta feed a low pass into Suarez and the striker attempts to turn the ball into Neymar, but Real Madrid again have good numbers back and the danger is cleared. Clear chances have been few and far between in this match, but Real Madrid are certainly more comfortable than they were.
34 min Messi sends Neymar racing away down the left, but Pepe is across to stop the Brazilian and Real Madrid can launch a break of their own. Ronaldo cuts a low cross towards Bale, but Alba is across to clear and the end-to-end period of the match continues. Still goalless with 34 on the clock here.
DID YOU KNOW? The biggest-ever El Clasico victory came in 1943, when Real Madrid recorded an 11-1 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Real Madrid also beat Barcelona 8-2 in the 1934-35 La Liga season, which is the highest league score between the pair. Not sure that score repeats itself tonight though!
32 min It has been better from Real Madrid in the last few minutes, but they are still giving away some sloppy balls and Barcelona do not need encouragement to drive forward. Messi continues to come deep and pick up possession and Casemiro is not really going with the Argentine at the moment.
30 min... Ronaldo takes the set piece, but his effort was always moving just over Bravo's net.
30 min Real Madrid have a free kick in Ronaldo territory here. Chance to test Bravo...
29 min BOOKING! Mascherano (Barcelona) is booked for bringing Bale to the deck.
27 min BOOKING! Suarez (Barcelona) is booked for a strong challenge on Pepe.
25 min SAVE! Ronaldo tests Bravo from distance, but the Chilean makes the save! Real Madrid keep the ball alive and Bale strikes from inside the box, but his effort was always over!
24 min PENALTY SHOUT! Messi dances past a couple of challenges before attempting to move past Ramos, but according to the referee, the centre-back got enough on the ball! The home supporters want a penalty and so does Luis Enrique, but the official was quick to shake his head.
23 min Suarez fires over following another smart piece of combination play with Neymar up top.
22 min Real Madrid just cannot find a route out at the moment as Barcelona continue to dominate possession of the ball. The only thing missing for the home side is a goal, but they are opening up the away side each time that they break forward. Surely only a matter of time at Camp Nou!
19 min CLOSE! Messi's free kick just misses the crossbar!
18 min BOOKING! Carvajal (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Iniesta.
16 min Super defending from Pique as the Barcelona centre-back manages to block a low cross from Bale, which seemed to be heading for Ronaldo at the far post. Still goalless with 16 minutes on the clock.
15 min Real Madrid are keeping a very high line at the moment, but it does seem very risky due to the pace that Barcelona possess in the final third of the field. Suarez has already had a wonderful chance to make the breakthrough and there is space for Neymar in wide positions as Real Madrid press forward.
13 min Plenty for the referee to get his teeth into at the moment as late challenges continue to arrive in the middle of the park. I suspect that we have not seen the last of the cards in this match!
10 min BOOKING! Ramos (Real Madrid) is booked for dissent.
10 min CHANCE! What a miss that is! Barcelona have a golden chance to take the lead as Neymar runs away from Ramos before delivering a wonderful low cross into Suarez, but the striker cannot find a touch and the chance is gone! It is a quite incredible miss from the Uruguay international!
10 min It is almost as if Barcelona are playing a diamond formation in midfield - Busquets at the bottom and Messi at the top. Real Madrid, on the other hand, are playing a straight 4-3-3 formation. Rakitic comes close to sliding a pass into the path of Suarez, but Navas is quick to claim the ball.
8 min As expected, Real Madrid's players are being booed with early touch here and it is Barcelona that have seen most of the ball in the opening eight minutes. Zidane is not too happy about something as he goes a little bonkers on the touchline, but the referee has been a little kind to his team so far!
6 min... instead Neymar finds Iniesta, who looks for the run of Messi, but Ramos clears down-field.
6 min It is going to be a long, difficult night for the referee as Casemiro bundles Rakitic to the deck and Barcelona win a free kick in a wide, but dangerous position. Messi stands over the set piece...
5 min I just hope that we are not talking about the referee after tonight's match, which is too often the case in clashes between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Suarez once again threatens to break clear of the Real Madrid defensive line and the offside flag is very kind to the visitors - Suarez looked on!
3 min Pepe and Busquets have just clashed in the Real Madrid half and it was a heavy challenge from Pepe to say the least! Both players felt it and Pepe takes a while to return to his feet here!
2 min... both teams will surely want to have a look at each other in the opening five, 10 minutes here. But as expected, it is Barcelona in control of the early possession. You just sense that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be crucial. Real Madrid have dropped off a touch from kickoff here.
0 min KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. It is Barcelona against Real Madrid and as expected, the atmosphere inside the stadium is magical. Who will triumph tonight? It is the home side that kick things off at Camp Nou...
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