A tetchy Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid threatened to boil over at Camp Nou, with Sergi Roberto seeing red as even Lionel Messi got in on the act.
The opening exchanges of the latest battle between old adversaries saw both sides create chances, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring inside 10 minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo levelled matters shortly afterwards, allowing him to preserve a fine personal record in meetings between Real and Barca.
The football then took a bit of a back seat as both sides decided to try and impose themselves physically.
Real defender Nacho was already in the book by the time Raphael Varane joined him just past the half-hour mark for felling the dangerous Suarez.
Diminutive figures Luka Modric and Jordi Alba then tangled amid a flurry of pushing and shoving, with the Barca defender perhaps fortunate to avoid a caution.
The fiery characters of Suarez and Sergio Ramos then squared up following a coming together.
Real’s skipper was accused of raising his arm, with both men booked for taking their arguments too far.
Within a matter of seconds, Ramos was then caught by Messi and indulged in enough theatrics to earn the Camp Nou icon a card.
Not to be left out, the recalled Gareth Bale caught Samuel Umtiti from behind and forced the referee into another decision.
He was let off the hook, but Sergi Roberto was not so fortunate in first-half stoppage-time.
The Barca full-back tangles with Marcelo on the edge of his own box and raises his hands to the Brazilian.
It was initially unclear how much contact was made, but a straight red card was thrust in his direction.
Fortunately, the half was brought to a close shortly after and everybody was given an opportunity to catch their breath.
