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Francisco Seco
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Real Madrid v Barcelona, El Clasico

Real Madrid took on Barcelona, with Zinedine Zidane’s men badly needing a win to stay in the title race.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick off for the games is at 12pm.

We’re underway…

Real Madrid have the ball in the net, but it’s ruled out.

From a corner, Casemiro heads on to Ronaldo, who heads home, but he’s clearly offside in doing so.

Real Madrid have started this game aggressively.

The majority of the match so far has been played in Barca’s half.

Real Madrid have been fairly impressive so far, dominating possession with Modric dictating the play.

As I type, the hosts get a chance. A cross falls to Ronaldo, but he completely fresh airs the shot.

Meanwhile, there are bad signs for Iniesta, as he has injured himself making a challenge on  Carvajal, though it appears he’s going to be okay to continue.

Barca are starting to see more of the ball now.

Iniesta tries to play Messi through, but his pass is slightly overhit.

Modric intercepts and dribbles down the pitch.

Vermaelen cynically takes him out to stop the counter attack, and gets a booking as a result.

Messi has been dropping back and is playing as a central midfielder at times.

Barca have been much better in the last few minutes, though have yet to create a clear-cut chance.

Perhaps partially owing to the unusually early kick-off, it’s been a little subdued and quite tactical so far.

Neither team has looked especially dominant or threatening so far.

Decent chance. Messi plays a brilliant through ball to Paulinho, whose powerful strike on the turn is tipped over by Navas.

Down the other end, Ronaldo beats Sergi Roberto on the left and forces a good save by Ter Stegen with a shot from a tight angle.

This game is starting to become more open now.

Modric picks out Ronaldo with a good pass.

The Portuguese star’s cross towards Benzema is deflected out of play.

Messi crosses for Paulinho. whose header is parried away by Navas.

Some of the Barca build-up play in recent minutes has been a joy to watch.

Important block by Pique, who stops Ronaldo heading Carvajal’s cross towards goal.

This game is really hotting up now.

Close!

Marcelo, who continues to get plenty of space down the left, crosses for Benzema, who heads just wide.

Messi is chopped down by Marcelo about 30 yards from goal.

His subsequent free kick hits the wall.

CORRECTION – HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 0-0 BARCELONA

The second half has begun…

Barcelona have controlled play nicely in this second half.

But there’s still a lack of concision to their play in the final third.

Alba crosses to Suarez, but the latter’s finish is tame, and Navas makes a fairly comfortable save.

Barca have totally dominated the second half in terms of possession.

REAL MADRID 0-1 BARCELONA (SUAREZ 54)

A brilliant counter-attack from Barca ends with Suarez coolly slotting home a Sergi Roberto cross.

The visitors just about deserve that goal on the balance of play. Real have been pretty passive in this second half.

Messi breaks and lays it off to Suarez, who finds the side netting with a shot from a tight angle.

Real Madrid are in danger of letting this game get away from them completely.

Sergio Ramos, who has been sent off in three of the last seven Clasicos (and five times overall), gets booked for a late challenge on Suarez.

Meanwhile, it looks like Real are about to make some changes.

RED CARD FOR CARVAJAL!

REAL MADRID 0-2 BARCELONA (MESSI 64)

Messi buries a penalty to surely end this game as a contest.

Moments earlier, Carvajal was deservedly sent off for deliberately handballing Paulinho’s goalbound header.

Benzema is replaced by Nacho.

Real fans are not happy with Zidane replacing a striker with a defender and they make their displeasure heard.

Real continue to look very vulnerable, with Kovacic giving the ball away in a dangerous area.

Messi forces a save from Navas, with a snap shot from the edge of the box.

More changes for Real now. Bale and Asensio replace Casemiro and Kovacic.

With 18 minutes of normal time remaining, it’s surely too little too late.

Barca now make a change. Iniesta makes way for Nélson Semedo.

The new man looks set to go to full back, with Sergi Roberto switching to midfield.

Chance for Real.

The ball falls to Bale on the edge of the box, but Ter Stegen gets down well to save his attempt.

Nélson Semedo bursts through on goal.

The finish is saved via the legs of Navas.

It certainly feels like there could be at least one more goal in the final 10 minutes of this game.

Ter Stegen gets down well to block a Ramos attempt from close range.

Real haven’t given up on this game yet.

Paulinho is replaced by Andre Gomes.

The Brazilian midfielder has been impressive today, offering a regular threat in the final third and creating the penalty for the second goal.

Barcelona appear to be playing this game out well.

They are controlling possession and frustrating the tiring hosts.

Messi lays it off to Gomes.

However, the Portugal international’s finish lacks conviction, and he blazes over.

REAL MADRID 0-3 BARCELONA (VIDAL 90)

Messi beats Marcelo down the right.

The Argentine star’s cross is slotted home by Alex Vidal, and Navas probably should have saved it, but he could only help it on into the net.

FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 0-3 BARCELONA

Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.

You can read our match report of the game here.

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