M. Díaz has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Dani Carvajal.
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLL!!! MARIANO SEALS IT! What a remarkable introduction for the striker who, with his first touches, gets the better of Umtiti, sprints into the area and, from a tight angle, manages to scuff a finish in over Ter Stegen.
The superb Carvajal gets the assist, having lofted a pass over Umtiti and into Mariano’s path, with the striker wiping away his tears as he celebrates.
90' +1
M. Díaz enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
A final change for Madrid. Benzema is off, with Mariano on.
Well, that was certainly not one of Messi’s best deliveries. He put his free-kick into a poor area, with Courtois able to come out and gather it in. Ter Stegen has to immediately rush back towards Barca’s goal, but his counterpart shows no signs of wanting to give up the ball quickly.
90'
A mistake from Vinicius, who concedes a free-kick on the left wing, deep in Madrid’s half. Ter Stegen comes forward for it…
89'
Ramos’ free-kick comes to nothing, with the defender unable to lift his strike over the Barca wall as we head into the final minute of normal time.
88'
Desperate, rash defending from Busquets, who has scythed down Vazquez on the edge of Barca’s area. Ramos stands over the free-kick, and it looks like the Madrid captain will take it…
87'
This would be a huge result for Madrid should they hold onto the three points. For Barca, it really could spell more trouble for their under-pressure president Bartomeu.
86'
Lucas Vázquez enters the game and replaces F. Valverde.
Another change from Madrid. Valverde – who receives a standing ovation from the home fans - makes way for Vazquez.
85'
L. Messi gets yellow.
Five minutes remaining for Barca to salvage something, but it’s Madrid who are on top at the moment and, in a show of frustration, Messi has just lunged in on Casemiro and rightly receives a booking.
81'
Ansu Fati enters the game and replaces A. Griezmann.
Here’s a double change from Setien, who is rolling the dice in an attempt to get back into this game. First, Griezmann makes way for Fati, who has enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough season so far.
Minute
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80'
I. Rakitić enters the game and replaces Arthur.
Madrid are causing Barca enough problems without the visitors helping them, but that’s just what Setien’s side are doing, consistently conceding possession in sloppy fashion as they attempt to play it into midfield.
The other Barca switch sees Arthur go off, with Rakitic – who has scored some stunning goals in huge games in the past – coming on.
79'
L. Modrić enters the game and replaces Isco.
A first change for Madrid. Modric is on, with Isco heading off.
78'
Madrid are playing with supreme confidence at the moment, and Carvajal gets forward to tee up Vinicius, who fails to connect properly with an attempted flick. However, it would not have counted, as the offside flag was up.
77'
Carvajal drops in a cross but neither Ramos or Benzema can turn it home. Remarkably, Pique then finds himself on the counter down the left wing. He feeds Braithwaite, who tries to cut it back for Griezmann at the near post, only for Courtois to get there first.
73'
Now, what have Barca got to offer in response? We should be in for a brilliant final 20 minutes or so at Santiago Bernabeu!
71'
Vinícius Júnior has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by T. Kroos.
It was great vision by Kroos, but the credit has to go to Vinicius. The teenager has been impressive today, despite making some poor decisions at times, and is well deserving of that goal.
GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! VINICIUS PUTS MADRID AHEAD! Finally, we have the breakthrough. Kroos is given time to pick a pass into Vinicius, who drives into the box and this time gets a shot off and, with Pique lunging across, it deflects beyond Ter Stegen and into the net. Madrid 1-0 Barca!
69'
M. Braithwaite enters the game and replaces A. Vidal.
What a moment this is for Braithwaite. A week after coming on and impressing against Eibar in his Barca debut, the former Leganes forward is now on for his Clasico bow. He has replaced Vidal, suggesting Barca will go into a 4-3-3.
68'
Offside! Ramos latched onto a header back into the box from Isco after Barca had failed to clear a corner properly, but he was clearly in an offside position. Ter Stegen did not know that at the time, however, and rushed out to make a fine save.
67'
Barca are ready to make the first change of the game, with Braithwaite about to come on for his Clasico debut.
65'
Vinicius takes a tumble in the area, but there was no touch from any Barca defender and the referee rightly dismisses the appeals for him to check with VAR.
60'
An hour played at Santiago Bernabeu and this Clasico – between the two title rivals – is firmly in the balance. Barca had the better of the opening stages of the second half, yet Madrid have gone closest to opening the scoring.
58'
Frustration for Messi and Barca, as the forward is pulled up for a foul on Marcelo. Madrid’s players want Messi booked, but there is nothing doing for the official.
55'
Calm and composed defending from Varane, who outpaces Griezmann to prevent his compatriot getting clear in Madrid’s half, getting the home side away on the attack.
54'
After minutes defending their own box, Madrid finally manage to break, with Vinicius again the person leading the counter-attack. He plays a one-two with Benzema, but the Madrid attackers again find themselevs isolated and Barca’s defence force the ball out for a goal-kick.
50'
Alba steps on the ball at a free-kick, enabling Messi to rush forward five yards and alter the angle. However, his cross is wayward and easily cleared by Madrid’s defence, though the hosts have certainly been on the back foot since the restart.
48'
Clever play from De Jong, who holds off a challenge and deftly flicks a pass into Messi’s path. His shot is blocked but Alba picks up the scraps and forces a corner. Pique meets the resulting cross, but Umtiti is adjudged to have fouled Casemiro in the box.
46'
With former Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo watching on from the stands, Barca get the second half underway at Santiago Bernabeu!
45'
HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 0-0 BARCELONA.
43'
As the first half draws to a close, it is Barca who are controlling proceedings, though Madrid are standing firm on the edge of their box and crowding out the visitors as soon as they encroach into the final third, with Vinicius always an outlet on the counter.
41'
End-to-end! First, it’s great defending from Varane, who makes a vital challenge to deny Vidal, with De Jong then sloppily conceding possession. Vinicius leads the break for Madrid, but his subsequent cutback is a poor one and Alba clears Barca’s lines.
40'
Experienced, composed play from Busquets who, after intercepting Carvajal’s pass, draws a clumsy, rash tackle from Valverde and wins a free-kick to relieve the pressure.
37'
A poor decision by Griezmann who, despite being under pressure from two defenders, tries to get a shot off instead of releasing Alba, who was in plenty of space. His error allows Varane to block the shot and get Madrid away on the counter, though Vinicius fails to get the better of Pique.
35'
Messi delivers the resulting corner but it is easily cleared by Benzema. That was a real let off for Madrid, whose goalkeeper has kept the scores level.
33'
Huge appeals from the home faithful as Alba – who is on a booking of course – bundles into Valverde. However, the referee does not even give a foul, despite the protests of both the Madrid players and the fans.
31'
A first effort for Messi, but on his weaker right foot and from a tight angle, Barca’s talisman does not really test Courtois. Messi has been on the periphery of this match so far, but he has the ability to change all of that in an instant, of course.
29'
Another attempt from Kroos, after another swift counter from Madrid. Barca were caught upfield with Vinicius and Isco leading the charge – the latter passing into Benzema, who laid it off for Kroos, but his shot was a wild one and soared over.
23'
Brilliant defending from Pique, who tracks Isco’s run and makes a vital intervention. There has just some quality missing in the final third for both sides so far.
19'
Jordi Alba gets yellow.
Dani Carvajal gets yellow.
Alba did not seem to do too much wrong in that incident but, nevertheless, has also gone into the book.
A bit of hustle and bustle down on the left flank as Alba and Carvajal clash. The referee is quickly over and again shows no hesitation in getting his cards out – showing the first one to Madrid’s full-back.
14'
Excellent combination play between Isco and Valverde sees Madrid break into Barca’s third. Kroos then tries to drill a pass into Isco in the area, but Busquets and Pique crowd out the playmaker.
12'
Bright, energetic play from Valverde who keeps an attack alive and allows Madrid to recycle possession. Unfortunately for the hosts, Marcelo’s resulting cross is a poor one and Barca are back in possession.
10'
Vinícius Júnior gets yellow.
A first booking of the match just 10 minutes in and it goes to Vinicius, who fouled Semedo. Strangely enough, it was the first foul of the match from either side, so it is no surprise that Vinicius seems to feel he was hard done by.
9'
Barca have had a few minutes of sustained possession, though they are playing it slowly and without much urgency. Busquets speeds things up with a first-time pass into De Jong, but his flick does not reach Alba.
5'
Madrid’s system looks a fluid one. Isco is drifting infield from the right to try and pick up space between the lines, while Benzema is also dropping deep to get involved. Vinicius is staying wide left but, when Isco and Benzema have vacated their positions, Valverde is pushing up the right flank to ensure Los Blancos have numbers upfield.
4'
Barca keep up the pressure, with De Jong ignoring Alba, who had made a fine run into the area, and hesitates over a pass. Valverde takes his chance and clatters into Barca’s number 21, who is fortunate that Madrid can’t hold onto possession and expose the visitors on the break.
3'
The hosts take a quick corner but Vidal is alert to it. After another set-piece, Barca clear their lines – Messi getting De Jong away on the counter. However, the Dutchman has to turn back on himself after he is crowded out by a glut of white shirts.
2'
Madrid immediately look to play their way out from the back following the kick-off and, though Casemiro miscues a pass slightly, he manages to beat the Barca press. Isco drifts over to the left flank to combine with Vinicius and Semedo has no choice but to concede a corner.
1'
KICK-OFF! Madrid, playing in their famous all-white strip, get proceedings underway!
Hello, readers around the world, and welcome to LIVE coverage of El Clasico. It’s Real Madrid against Barcelona – the biggest match in club football – at Santiago Bernabeu today, in what is a crucial clash in this season’s LaLiga title race.
Madrid sit second, two points behind Barca after a poor run in February. From their last five matches in all competitions, Zinedine Zidane’s side have just one victory to their name, with a defeat to Levante last time out, following on from a draw with Celta Vigo, allowing Barca to put themselves ahead at the top.
TEAM NEWS – REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Federico Valverde, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Isco, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
TEAM NEWS – REAL MADRID SUBS: Alphonse Areola, Eder Militao, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Lucas Vazquez, Ferland Mendy, Mariano Diaz.
Barca may be leading the way in LaLiga, but not all of their fans are happy at how the club is being run – indeed, there were protests against president Josep Maria Bartomeu prior to a 5-0 home win over Eibar last weekend. Quique Setien still seems to be struggling to implement his style on the team, which seems to be as heavily as reliant on Lionel Messi as it has ever been.
TEAM NEWS – BARCELONA SUBS: Ivan Rakitic, Neto, Clement Lenglet, Martin Braithwaite, Junior Firpo, Alex Collado, Ansu Fati.
TEAM NEWS – BARCELONA (4-3-1-2): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Arthur, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong; Arturo Vidal; Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann.
The teams are out at Santiago Bernabeu, where the atmosphere is truly electric. Kick-off is moments away!
Setien’s side have certainly had the better of the possession – seeing 57.2 per cent of the ball so far – but Madrid have had joy on the counter. However, Zidane could perhaps look to introduce more pace, maybe in the form of Bale, in order to offer more support to Vinicius and Benzema. Barca have also looked more dangerous when they have stepped up through the gears and looked to play in Messi or Griezmann in behind, while Alba is consistently providing an option on their left.
Well, that’s all for now. Thank you for reading our live coverage of a thrilling Clasico clash. Until next time, goodbye!
Barca’s players look despondent but it has to be said that in the second half, despite a bright start, they were by far second best. Madrid’s victory, which ends a run of four straight home defeats in Clasico fixtures in the league, sends Los Blancos top, a point above their rivals.
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