Real Madrid v Barcelona: El Clásico as it happened! | Scott Murray

Real Madrid came from behind to take charge of the seasons first El Clásico fixture, as Luis Suarez made his debut for Barcelona.

Click here for the best images from the Bernabéu

6.50pm BST

And thats that! A fully deserved win for Carlo Ancelottis side. Barcelona started strongly, going ahead early through Neymars goal, but were almost immediately under pressure from there on in. Real were the better team for 86 minutes, and move to within a point of Barca at the top of the table. In other news, a decent enough debut for Luis Suarez, whose former team-mates at Anfield can take heart from the fact that theyre not the only ones to have been bossed by the European champions this week. Whether Barcelona would allow themselves to be held to a goalless draw at home to Hull City is another matter, of course, but weve gone wildly off piste now. A brilliant performance by Real, who have come from behind to win an El Clásico fixture for the first time in over two decades!

6.47pm BST

90 min +3: Ronaldo is booked for a little donkey kick on Alves.

6.47pm BST

90 min +2: And much good it does them. Messis dreadful effort only just about stays within the confines of the stadium.

6.46pm BST

90 min +1: Carvajal, who having been booked needs to watch himself, takes down Neymar, 30 yards from goal. Not much contact, though Neymars asking the referee to show a second yellow. But nope! A free kick in a fairly dangerous central position will have to do.

6.44pm BST

90 min: Corner for Barcelona, down the right. Rakitic takes. The set piece doesnt clear the first man, and the breaks on. For the 984th time today, a sloppy pass ruins a Real move with Barca light at the back. This time its the fault of Marcelo. The crowd groan in frustration, but not with any real passion. Theyre three minutes of added time away from celebrating Reals 92nd league victory over Barcelona. (Barca, for the record, have 89 wins in the bag.)

6.42pm BST

89 min: Modric is replaced by Arbeloa.

6.42pm BST

88 min: A couple of dangerous crosses into the Real area from the right by Alves. Both are mopped up by Ramos.

6.40pm BST

87 min: Benzema is replaced by Khedira.

6.39pm BST

86 min: Mascherano loops a gorgeous pass down the inside-right channel to release Alves, but the right-back cant bring the ball down in the Real area, and Marcelo can clear. Ronaldo very nearly breaks up the left wing, but Pique is across quickly to put a stop to his gallop.

6.38pm BST

84 min: In a bad moment for MBM reporters worldwide, Isco is replaced by Illarramendi.

6.36pm BST

81 min: Rakatic makes good down the right and whips a ball towards the near post. Ramos dives in to head behind. The corner leads to nothing other than a Real break. Ronaldo, Rodriguez and Benzema make for the Barca box, and should manufacture a shot at the very least, and probably should score. But they over-engineer the move, Ronaldo, eventually playing a blind pass to the right for Rodriguez. Sergi Roberto, who has bravely tracked back, is able to intercept. Barca are somehow still within range; Real have passed up a lot of chances to wrap this up in pretty bows.

6.34pm BST

80 min: Messi, in a tight position 40 yards out with his back to goal, flicks a superlative ball down the right wing for Pedro, who really should tear clear into the area, but allows Pepe to come across and stop him from getting a shot away. A goal here for Barcelona would, needless to say, change everything.

6.32pm BST

78 min: Marcelo, in acres in the middle of the Barca half, flicks a pass out wide to Rodriguez. Hed have set his team-mate free, had Mascherano not made yet another last-ditch challenge. Its been threatening to turn a little ugly for Barca, this. Mascherano is doing his level best to keep things civil.

6.30pm BST

75 min: Rodriguez turns briskly down the right and zips upfield, before raking a pass forward for Benzema. The Real striker should never be allowed to reach the ball, but Pique is ponderous on the edge of his own area. Benzema steals possession, then lays off inside to Rodriguez, who had kept on keepin on. Rodriguez shoots, but his effort is blocked by the equally relentless Mascherano. Real are in total control of this game now, the bosses of Barca.

6.28pm BST

74 min: Carvajal is booked for a reasonably agricultural challenge on Mathieu.

6.27pm BST

73 min: Messi bustles on the edge of the Barca box. He slips the ball to the left for Neymar, who falls backwards as he mishits a weak shot wide of goal. He didnt get anything on that at all. Casillas bollocks his defenders, knowing full well that a decent whack by Neymar would have had him in all sorts of bother.

6.26pm BST

72 min: Iniesta pulls up with Leg Twang. Hes replaced by Sergi Roberto.

6.25pm BST

71 min: Real look like scoring every time they go forward, only for the final pass to go awry. Ronaldo tears down the left and tries to set up Benzema again, but the ball inside is behind his team-mate.

6.24pm BST

70 min: Real stream forward again, Kroos sending Ronaldo and Benzema on their way. The former lays off to the latter on the edge of the area, and Benzema blooters high over the bar for three rugby-union points.

6.23pm BST

69 min: Suarez, on the right-hand corner of the Real box, whips a high cross to the far post for Neymar, who heads powerfully wide. Thats Suarezs final act of the evening, as hes replaced by Pedro.

6.21pm BST

67 min: Rakitic, to the right of the Real D, drags a lame shot wide left of goal. The visitors can take heart that theyre at least on the front foot right now.

6.21pm BST

66 min: Barca are keeping busy, Rakitic nearly releasing Suarez into the area with a sliderule down the inside-right channel. But Ramos is across quickly to intercept. Real are fairly comfortable right now.

6.19pm BST

64 min: Barca are tiki-taka-ing the ball around the edge of the Real area, but getting absolutely nowhere. Real spring clear through Marcelo down the left. Marcelo reaches the Barca box after a lung-busting run. He slides the ball right for Rodriguez, but the pass is poor. Mascherano is able to slide across and block, the ball looping into the air, and Bravo can claim. The visitors are on the ropes here.

6.17pm BST

A fine goal from a Real perspective, but a nightmare if youre a Barca fan. Isco chases a lost cause down the left. Iniesta and Mascherano get in each others way - think Willie Miller and Alan Hansen at the 1982 World Cup for Scotland against USSR - and the Real midfielder scoots away. Ronaldos soon got the ball near the Barca D. He shifts it right to Rodriguez, who slides it down the channel to release Benzema. A shots lashed into the bottom left, and the home side are in control now!

6.14pm BST

60 min: Rakitic replaces Xavi.

6.14pm BST

59 min: Suarez turns Ramos down the inside-right channel, and then goes to ground rather too easily. Then Alves hoofs the ball straight into Ronaldos teeth. Not a brilliant 60 seconds for two of the worlds best players.

6.11pm BST

56 min: But you cant keep Barca down. Neymar romps into space down the inside left, and his pullback so nearly sets up Messi to convert from 10 yards in the middle. Real clear, but not particularly impressively, and Mathieu, down the left flank, sends a stunning heatseeker towards the top left from 20 yards. Its going snugly into the corner, but Casillas turns it behind. The resulting set piece comes to naught. What a shot by the left-back, though!

6.09pm BST

54 min: Marcelo goes on another romp down the left. He shuttles the ball inside and sets up Kroos, who should shoot on the edge of the D, but lays off to Ronaldo on the right. The balls then slid over back left to Isco, whose shot-cum-cross is blocked and gathered by Bravo. But Real are soon coming back at their rivals, Rodriguez unleashing a rising shot from the right flank. Bravo again deals with it. Real have the scent in their nostrils right now.

6.07pm BST

53 min: Suarez busies himself down the inside-left channel, but cant bust through the Real back line. Real flood up the other end, Benzemas rolled pass down the middle very nearly sending Ronaldo clear. This isnt going to end 2-1. Its been getting cruelly brutal from Barcelona, writes Charles Antaki, in a tinder-dry email with the subject heading gimlet eyed toughs. That notorious rough-house heavy Iniesta has joined the ruthless bullies Neymar and Messi in the book. Pepe, meanwhile, has had a quiet game. Heh. Its easy to forget that these grand old clubs, marketed now as the aesthetes choice, were never afraid to embrace base thuggery as a way of life, back in the day, when needs must. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Marvellous!

6.05pm BST

Ronaldo and Benzema slide passes to each other down the right wing. Ronaldo takes a stride into the area, and sees his low, hard shot deflected out for a corner by Pique. The relief doesnt last long. A free header for Pepe as the corners hit long. Pepe batters a header into the left-hand side of the net from ten yards, and the home side have turned it around!

6.01pm BST

47 min: Suarez is taken down when zig-zagging towards the Real box down the right-hand channel. Modric is expecting to go in the book, and is somewhat surprised when the referee takes no action. Just a free kick, which Messi clubs into the wall.

6.00pm BST

And were off again! Real are immediately on the attack, Rodriguez and Benzema exchanging passes on the right-hand edge of the Barca box, the former taking a shot thats deflected, looping up and down and into Bravos hands. The defending in this match actually has been quite good given that both teams are essentially playing with eight attackers and two defenders, opines Gene Salorio. Yes, its been nothing if not great fun, a sugar rush. Like watching Luis Suarez era Liverpool play Luis Suarez era Liverpool.

5.46pm BST

Half-time intermission: In honour of the absent Gareth Bale.

5.45pm BST

Whoosh! Watch those 45 minutes go!

5.44pm BST

44 min: It couldnt last. Marcelo reaches the edge of the Barca box down the left and scoops a cross into the centre, where Pique misses his clearance, and Rodriguez fails to connect properly with a header ten yards out. His effort flies wide right. Ronaldo, next to him, looks pained.

5.43pm BST

43 min: No chances given up by either defence for approximately 180 seconds now. All very odd.

5.40pm BST

40 min: But theyre totting up the corners, too. Another down the left wing. Xavi takes the set piece, and hits it long. Pique connects at the far post, but his downward header is blocked and squirts out for a second corner. Casillas punches the second one clear. Good luck in calling which way this match is going.

5.38pm BST

38 min: Barca are totting up the bookings here. Their fourth player goes into the book, Iniesta clattering into the side of Modric with unnecessary force as the Real midfielder looks to break quickly upfield after a Neymar snapshot from 20 yards was easily blocked.

5.37pm BST

37 min: Reals tails are up now. Marcelo very nearly tears clear down the left again, but hes shoved off the ball by Alves, who really needed to deal with that situation. Barca can thank him at half time, if they make it that far.

5.36pm BST

Thats slotted away without fuss, into the bottom right as Bravo is sent the wrong way. The Bernabeu erupts.

5.35pm BST

34 min: Real are soon coming back at Barca. Marcelo romps down the left, reaches the byline, and crosses low. Pique, on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box, slides in to smother the ball, and hes deliberately handled this time. Thats a no-brainer for the referee, and a chance for Ronaldo to equalise from the spot.

5.33pm BST

33 min: Ronaldo takes a couple of stepovers down the left and wins a corner. Rodriguez takes the set piece. Ronaldo rises on the penalty spot, and powers a header downwards. The effort hits Pique on the hand, but the defender was so close to Ronaldo it couldnt have been deliberate. No penalty. But no matter, because ...

5.32pm BST

31 min: Alves has a whack from distance. The daisycutter takes a deflection en route to Casillas, but not so dramatically that the keeper is confused.

5.31pm BST

29 min: Words dont come easy to me, to quote the great FR David. Luckily you can turn to this Gallery of action from the Bernabeu.

5.28pm BST

27 min: This is a preposterously open match. Real give up a couple of chances within the space of 60 seconds. First Suarez nearly breaks through down the inside-left channel, but the ball clanks off his shin. Then Neymar looks to take a snapshot at the right-hand post, but Ramos slides across on his buttocks to deny him. This is not going to end 0-1.

5.27pm BST

26 min: Ronaldo cuts into the Barca area from the left, and bangs the old nips straight into Busquets. He falls and claims the penalty, but the referee decides he was looking for it. To be fair to Ronaldo, once the decisions made - or not made - he gets up quickly and gets on with it.

5.25pm BST

24 min: This is hectic. Rodriguez performs a stepover down the right and nearly finds Ronaldos head at the far post. The cross is intercepted by Pique. The balls shuttled upfield, where Kroos clumsily clanks into Messi and is very fortunate not to see yellow.

5.24pm BST

23 min: Suarez hasnt taken long to make an impression. He makes a little space for himself down the right again, then fires a low cross into the box. Its a brilliant ball, and its met by Messi, who surely must score, but his sidefoot allows Casillas to get in the way and tip out for a corner. The set piece comes to nothing.

5.22pm BST

22 min: Messi goes on a dribble down the middle, then tries to sliderule one into the bottom-right corner. He doesnt connect particularly well. Its pelting along at 200mph, this game, with not a lot of calm control on display. Its like an Old Firm game from 1987.

5.21pm BST

21 min: Neither of these teams look particularly impressive when on the back foot. Then again, by definition, who does? Ronaldo goes on a determined meander down the right, but his low cross into the centre is hacked away by Pique.

5.19pm BST

18 min: Ronaldo sends a pea-roller straight down Bravos throat. Barca appear to have weathered that storm.

5.18pm BST

16 min: Suarez goes on one of his power runs and wins a corner down the left. The corner doesnt beat the first man. Real clear, only for Pepe to shank a simple pass straight out of play at 90 degrees. Barca cant make anything out of the throw, deep in Real territory, but after that period of pressure, theyll be grateful for the breather.

5.15pm BST

14 min: Its fair to say this has been a lively start. How has English television been dealing with this?

5.14pm BST

13 min: Carvajal clatters into the back of Neymar. A lot of whistling. The referee tells the Barca player to get on with it. Neymar takes matters into his own hands, leading with his elbow as the pair compete for a high ball soon after. His arm clatters into Carvajals face, and theres a second Barcelona player in the book.

5.12pm BST

11 min: Barcelona are hanging on here! Ronaldo dances down the left in a very adroit manner, and loops a cross into the middle for Benzema, who crashes a header off the crossbar! Soon after, hes scuttling around near the right-hand post, and hits the frame of the goal again! How the home side havent equalised here is the big question.

5.11pm BST

10 min: Marcelo twirls through 360 degrees down the left, and slams the ball through the six-yard box. How on earth does Benzema not connect? Well, he doesnt, the ball an inch behind him as he rushes in with a view to hammering home from a couple of yards.

5.10pm BST

9 min: Sweet only gets you so far, though. Messi clatters into Kroos, and hes in the book. You could make the case that he should be walking now, but I suppose most players are allowed a saucy one early on.

5.08pm BST

8 min: Messi is upended, cutting in from the right. A free kick, and its wasted. Messi then turns aggressor, sliding in on Modric. He surely deserves to go in the book, but just look at his sweet little face.

5.07pm BST

5 min: Ronaldo is brought down just to the left of the Barca D. The resulting free kick is witless, banged straight into a startled Barca coupon. But the ball breaks out to the left for Isco, who strokes cross into the area. Benzema springs free, and flicks the ball past the outrushing Bravo. However, the keepers done just enough, as Benzemas flick bounces apologetically wide of the right-hand post.

5.05pm BST

Well, well, well. What a start for Luis Suarez! He cuts in from the right and flies a pass across the front of the area for Neymar, coming in from the other side. Neymar glides across, and launches a low fizzer into the bottom right! Suarez looks like a bargain already, though this Brazilian lad isnt half bad either.

5.03pm BST

2 min: Rodriguez, cutting in from the right, larrups a long, diagonal ball towards Isco on the left. Things look like opening up for Real Madrid early doors, but Isco cant get the ball under control.

5.01pm BST

Some atmosphere, but you dont really need to be told that. Casillas and Xavi shake hands. A coin is tossed. And were off! Barca get the ball rolling. They knock it around the back awhile. Mascherano swings a ball out to the right, where Suarez takes his first touch in the Spanish league. Its on!

4.58pm BST

A beautiful evening at the Bernabeu, and the teams make their way onto the pitch! You know how theyre dressed: Real in merengue white, Barca inblaugrana blue and red. Before we begin the beguine, to reference erstwhile Real Madrid reserve keeper Julio Iglesias, anyone for a bit of El Clásico Joy of Six action, from an 11-1 shellacking to Johan Cruyffs high point in a Barcelona shirt, via the Alfredo di Stefano affair? Hell whyever not.

4.12pm BST

Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Rodriguez, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo.

Barcelona: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar.

4.00pm BST

Say what you like about Luis Suarez, but the mans got star quality. Imagine the disappointment if, back from his latest ban, he doesnt start today! Well have to make do with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, James Rodriguez and Neymar. Bah. Whats the La Liga refund policy?

Kick off: 5pm.

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