Real Madrid v Barcelona Live Commentary & Result, 23/04/2017, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	RMA Real Madrid	38	29	6	3	106	41	+65	93	W W W W W
2	BAR Barcelona	38	28	6	4	116	37	+79	90	W W W W W
3	ATM Atlético Madrid	38	23	9	6	70	27	+43	78	W D W W L
4	SEV Sevilla	38	21	9	8	69	49	+20	72	W L D L W
5	VIL Villarreal	38	19	10	9	56	33	+23	67	W D L W W
6	RSO Real Sociedad	38	19	7	12	59	53	+6	64	D D D W W
7	ATH Athletic Club	38	19	6	13	53	43	+10	63	L D L W W
8	ESP Espanyol	38	15	11	12	49	50	-1	56	W L W L D
9	ALA Deportivo Alavés	38	14	13	11	41	43	-2	55	D W W W D
10	EIB Eibar	38	15	9	14	56	51	+5	54	L L L W D
11	MAL Málaga	38	12	10	16	49	55	-6	46	L D W W W
12	VAL Valencia	38	13	7	18	56	65	-9	46	L W W L L
13	CEL Celta de Vigo	38	13	6	19	53	69	-16	45	D L L L L
14	LPM Las Palmas	38	10	9	19	53	74	-21	39	L L L L L
15	BET Real Betis	38	10	9	19	41	64	-23	39	D D L L L
16	DEP Deportivo La Coruña	38	8	12	18	43	61	-18	36	W D L D L
17	LEG Leganés	38	8	11	19	36	55	-19	35	D D W L W
18	SPO Sporting Gijón	38	7	10	21	42	72	-30	31	D W W L D
19	OSA Osasuna	38	4	10	24	40	94	-54	22	L W L D L
20	GRA Granada	38	4	8	26	30	82	-52	20	L L L L L

FULL-TIME! Barcelona keep LaLiga's title race alive with a 3-2 win over 10-man Real Madrid in the Spanish capital, courtesy of a stoppage-time strike from Lionel Messi. It appeared to be all tied up, but a magical goal from the visitors robbed Zidane's men of a chance to close out the title. What a game. That's all that we have time for, we hope to see you again next time.

L. Messi

Yellow Card

Yellow card Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini

Jordi Alba

Assist

Jordi Alba cuts a great cross into a very dangerous area.

L. Messi

Goal

GOOOOOOOOOOAL! MESSI MAKES IT 3-2! UNBELIEVABLE SCENES AT THE DEATH! Barcelona build from the back, with some neat play allowing for Sergi Roberto to drive forward through the midfield third. Barcelona break down the left, before a low cross from Jordi Alba is guided home by Messi brilliantly.

There are two minutes of stoppage time.

Marco Asensio is picked out on the left-hand side by Ronaldo, but a low shot from the youngster is beaten away from goal by Ter Stegen. The Barcelona goalkeeper has been kept very busy indeed this evening.

James tries to squeeze a neat finish inside the near post, using a ruck of bodies to hide his intentions from Ter Stegen, but the German goalkeeper makes a good save regardless. The home fans are urging their team over the finish line.

Marcelo

Assist

Marcelo guides in a low cross and James gets there first.

J. Rodríguez

Goal

GOOOOOOOOOOAL! JAMES MAKES IT 2-2! What an important goal that could be! The substitute is picked out by a low cross into the near post, and thunders a close-range finish home! Nobody picked up his run at all.

Messi bursts to the edge of the penalty area and rattles a low shot goalwards, but Navas parries the ball to safety easily. Barcelona are happy to just keep earning themselves free-kicks to help run the clock down.

J. Rodríguez

K. Benzema

James gets thrown into the game with the task of making himself a hero. Benzema comes off.

M. Kovačić

Yellow Card

Kovacic gets a yellow card for sliding in cynically on Messi.

Pique is denied by Navas! The Spain international sees a low shot saved from close range, after a good cross into the box from Andre Gomes. The Costa Rican staggers out and then stands tall to divert the ball to safety. Ronaldo heads up the other end on the break, but fires over.

The atmosphere has taken a turn for the worst since Ramos' red card, with the home fans baying for blood. Around 10 minutes are left for Real Madrid to make the mother of all comebacks - and they'll have to do it without their captain and talisman.

Dani Carvajal

Yellow Card

Yellow card Daniel Carvajal Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Red Card

RED CARD! Sergio Ramos gets dismissed, and that has gone from bad to worse for the home side. Messi tries to escape down the right-hand side, with the Spain international diving in with two feet on the Argentine star.

Real Madrid have just 15 minutes left to try and find a goal, with Barcelona in dreamland with not long to go. If the visitors are to hold onto the three points, it will throw the LaLiga title race wide open once again. Zidane's men are trying to push on, but a low shot from Ronaldo is gobbled up by Ter Stegen.

I. Rakitić

Goal

GOOOOOOOOAL! WHAT A HIT FROM RAKITIC! The Croatia international checks onto his left foot on the edge of the box, before rattling a brilliant finish inside the far post. Navas has no chance. That is some effort from the ex-Sevilla midfielder.

Andre Gomes drives to the byline, but is unable to get a cross in due to pressure from Carvajal. Real Madrid break, with Kovacic releasing Asensio down the right-hand side. The young substitute cuts in from the right and forces a near-post save out of Ter Stegen, who does well to smother the ball.

André Gomes

Paco Alcácer

Andre Gomes replaces Alcacer, as Luis Enrique looks to dominate in the midfield third.

M. Kovačić

Casemiro

Kovacic comes into the game, with Casemiro taking his leave. Zidane couldn't risk the Brazilian getting sent off any longer.

Good attempt from Messi! He drops a shoulder and steams beyond Casemiro, before forcing a punch out of Navas. The Real Madrid goalkeeper suddenly has had quite a bit to do. Ronaldo will be wondering how he didn't put this game beyond doubt, however.

Marco Asensio is released into space on the edge of the penalty area, before bursting forward brilliantly. He slots a neat pass towards the back post, aiming for Ronaldo, but the Portugal international can only slide in to divert an effort over the crossbar. Iniesta angles a cross to the back post at the other end, with Suarez denied by a very strong hand by Navas.

Kroos opens play out to the right-hand side beautifully, with Asensio then hanging a cross up to the back post. Ronaldo tries his luck with an acrobatic over-head kick, but his speculative effort is sliced a long way wide of the target. He didn't get the contact he was hoping for.

Marcelo whips in a devilish ball from the left-hand side, which Jordi Alba has to stoop to head beyond his own back post to concede a corner. Once again, however, the set piece comes to nothing for Real Madrid. Just one little mistake could tip the balance of this contest hugely.

Carvajal and Suarez are given a talking to by the referee, after the former responds to a little kick out from the Uruguayan. Real Madrid try to break upfield quickly, with Marco Asensio the target of a lofted through ball, but Ter Stegen is off his line in a flash to clear.

Carvajal tries to whip in a cross from the right byline, but Ter Stegen gets there to gobble the ball up just ahead of Ronaldo. This game is very delicately poised indeed. Around half an hour remains for either side to try and force the issue, but Real Madrid would be content with a point.

Great save from Navas! Pique rises highest in the penalty area to power a header towards goal, after a corner delivery from the left. The Costa Rica goalkeeper dives to his left to parry the ball well clear.

Messi manages to win a free-kick for the away side around 30 yards out, but a curling shot from the Argentina international sails high of the target. Barcelona are slowly growing into this half, just as they managed to in the first. Alcacer could well rue that big opportunity.

Barcelona slow things down with a patient spell of possession, as Luis Enrique's men try and get a handle on this intense start from Real Madrid. If the visitors can weather the storm, they could have a chance. Alcacer is found in space in the box, but a stabbed finish from the Spaniard is denied by the legs of Navas.

Ramos escapes a booking, despite shouting in the referee's face from an inch away, with Real Madrid still looking to force the issue and unsettle Barcelona. The hosts are pressing high and harrying well. Marcelo curls in a cross from the left, which Benzema threatens to tuck home, but Ter Stegen makes an improvised save to deny the Frenchman!

Iniesta tries to lift a ball over the top for Alba to chase, but the Spaniard is caught narrowly offside by Marcelo on the far side. Barcelona finally enjoyed a spell of their own possession, as Zidane's men continue to try and fluster their opponents.

Kroos is teed up on the edge of the penalty area by Marcelo, but a left-footed strike from the ex-Bayern midfielder is palmed to safety by Ter Stegen. Real Madrid have flew out in the early stages of this second half, with endless balls being pumped into the visitors' box.

Marco Asensio bursts down the right and feeds a pass into the overlapping Carvajal on his outside. The right-back bends in a good cross, which Pique is forced to slide in to divert wide of his own near post. Ronaldo was lurking. Suarez nods the resulting corner away from the danger zone.

We are back underway in the second half in Madrid! Goals from Casemiro and Messi have us level with 45 minutes left to play, with nothing but a win really good enough to help Barcelona's title charge.

HALF-TIME! Barcelona's players are fuming at the break, with plenty of their players surrounding the referee. Casemiro has put in three cynical tackles, but somehow has escaped a second yellow card. Messi's goal has the visitors right back in this at 1-1, it's all to play for!

Iniesta invites Alba down the left-hand side with a great pass, with a cross from the Spain international turned behind for a corner. Rakitic bends it in, with Navas hurtling out to get nowhere near the ball! Messi is the man who has a chance to fire home from a few yards, but he fluffs his lines!

There are two minutes of stoppage time.

Marco Asensio is picked out by a crossfield ball from Ramos, before feeding Modric possession. The Croatian midfielder tries to thread the eye of a needle with a pass into Benzema, but it is cut out.

Kroos releases Marcelo down the left-hand side, but a clipped cross from the Brazilian is brought down calmly by Umtiti. Suarez darts down the right for the visitors, before angling a cross back in from the byline. It falls to Jordi Alba at the back post, who fires just shy of the target with a back-post volley!

Just wide from Messi! The Argentine combines with Suarez on the counter-attack, before trying his luck from the edge of the box. The ball deflects off Kroos and heads wide, but the referee points for a goal-kick. That should have been a corner.

Marco Asensio

G. Bale

Bale heads straight down the tunnel, with Marco Asensio on to replace him.

S. Umtiti

Yellow Card

Umtiti gets a yellow card for sliding in late on Ronaldo.

Bale limps down the tunnel, with Asensio given the nod to get warm. Another frustrating night due to injuries for the Welshman. Barcelona will want to try and take advantage of his absence, with the hosts down to 10 men for the time being.

Good save from Ter Stegen! Modric takes aim from 25 yards out, with a powerful effort forcing a full-stretch save out of the Barcelona goalkeeper. He gets smartly over to his left. Bale goes down for the hosts, and it appears to be a calf problem.

Only 10 minutes remain in the first half, with that goal from Messi sure to do wonders for the away side's spirits. Barcelona are finally linking some nice passages of play together. Suarez tries to link up with the goalscorer after winning possession back deep in the opposition half, but Ramos steps out to intercept.

I. Rakitić

Assist

Rakitic is released down the right flank by Busquets, before angling a neat pass into space for Messi to latch onto.

L. Messi

Goal

GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! MESSI MAKES IT 1-1! Barcelona are right back in it! Navas hasn't had a save to make, but now needs to pick the ball out of his net. The Argentina international is picked out in the penalty area by a lovely pass from Rakitic, before darting into the box. He gets beyond Carvajal with ease, before slotting home a great finish.

Messi manages to win a free-kick for Barcelona, after a late challenge from Casemiro. The Brazil international is going to have to really watch his step. The visitors just take it short, however, as Luis Enrique's men try and get some kind of control inside the opposition half.

Barcelona have it all to do now, with a win all that is really good enough to keep their title hopes firmly alive. Messi is still playing on with tissue in his mouth, but Navas is being very well protected. The visitors aren't even generating any good half chances at present.

Casemiro

Goal

GOOOOOOOAL! CASEMIRO MAKES IT 1-0! Kroos whips a corner into the box from the right-hand side, but a half-clearance finds Marcelo in space on the edge of the box. The Brazilian whips in a second ball, which Sergio Ramos guides onto the post. The rebound falls to Casemiro, who tucks home a close-range finish.

Sergi Roberto tries to clip a ball over the top for Alcacer to chase, but Nacho makes a vital headed interception. Barcelona are desperate trying to get a foothold in this midfield battle, but it isn't quite happening at the moment. Bale drives down the right at pace and gets into the area, but Pique slides over to concede a corner.

It has been end-to-end stuff so far at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, with Ter Stegen definitely getting the bulk of the goalkeeping work. Real Madrid look very keen to put the LaLiga title race to bed tonight. Benzema drives forward and looks to work a shooting angle, but a brief bit of hesitation from the Frenchman allows for a covering Busquets to tackle him.

Over the bar from Ronaldo! Marcelo drives down the left and cuts a pass to the Portuguese striker on the edge of the box. He checks in onto his weaker foot and slices a terrible shot high and wide. He really looks up for this game.

Bale is found by a very searching ball from deep, with the Welshman gallopping into the penalty box and then directing a poor strike straight at Ter Stegen. The Barcelona goalkeeper has been very busy indeed. Messi returns to the pitch after some treatment, with tissue shoved in his mouth to stem the bleeding.

Good save from Ter Stegen! The German goalkeeper gets an important hand to the ball, after a quick break from the home side. Ronaldo's sweeping finish is denied a chance to nestle in the bottom corner! There is a stoppage in play, as Messi is caught in the face by an elbow from Marcelo. It appeared to be accidental.

Chance for Benzema! Modric drops a shoulder to get beyond Iniesta and drive upfield, before feeding a throughball into the French striker. He shoots, but drags his effort straight at Ter Stegen. Barcelona immediately break, with a long ball up to Alcacer directed into Suarez's path. The Uruguayan fires horribly wide, however.

Ronaldo tries to slide a neat little pass into the box for Benzema to chase, but Pique sticks out a very important boot to make an interception. Barcelona respond with a break, which sees Messi try and play an onrushing Rakitic into space inside the penalty area, but Navas and Carvajal combine to clear the danger.

Pique tries to lift a long ball over the top for Alcacer to chase, but the pass skips straight through to Navas. Barcelona are enjoying a long spell of possession in these early stages, with Luis Enrique's men regaining their composure after a tough first five minutes or so.

The opening quarter of an hour has swung back and forth, with both teams showing a little bit of what they will be trying to do this evening. Bale makes a mistake inside his own box, but isn't penalised for it, before the Welshman is then caught offside while trying to get in behind Jordi Alba.

Casemiro

Yellow Card

Casemiro slides straight through the back of Messi, with the Brazilian already making a cynical tackle. He will need to be careful from now on.

Wide from Suarez! Messi manages to move the ball out wide to the left-hand side, with Jordi Alba invited forward. The ex-Valencia defender cuts back a brilliant pass to Suarez on the edge of the box, but a rushed shot from the Uruguay international flashes beyond the far post.

Carvajal lifts a pass up to Ronaldo, who chests a neat pass down to Benzema. Real Madrid's front three keep rotating and replacing one another in different spaces, with it clear that Zidane is keen to try and test the visiting full-backs. Luis Enrique's men have only had a couple of meaningful passages of play, with Iniesta most recently seeing a shot blocked.

The hosts' front three have been very fluid so far, with their pacey, high-tempo approach to the opening stages looking to unsettle Barcelona. Jordi Alba finds Suarez on the edge of the area, with Casemiro bringing down the visiting forward, but the referee once again plays on. It appeared that the Brazilian midfield got a good foot to the ball in the process.

Benzema releases Ronaldo in behind down the right-hand side, with the Portugal international streaking forward at real pace. He chops inside Pique brilliantly, before trying his luck with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box. His shot is gobbled up quite simply by Ter Stegen.

Real Madrid are dominating in the early stages and enjoying all of the ball. Carvajal plays a one-two with Ronaldo before darting to the byline, but a clipped cross from the right isn't met by anybody in a white shirt at the back post.

Shout for a penalty! Ramos opens play out to the right-hand side for Carvajal to chase, with the right-back immediately trying to hook a volley back square into the box. Ronaldo gets to it first and skips beyond Umtiti before going down. There was contact and that should have been given.

We are underway in the first half at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu! It's El Clasico and it could define the LaLiga title race. Don't miss anything, this should be a cracker.

Barcelona substitutes: Mascherano, Arda, Cillessen, Denis, Digne, Andre Gomes, Carles Alena.

Barcelona starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic; Messi; Suarez, Paco Alcacer.

Real Madrid substitutes: Kiko Casilla, James, Isco, Morata, Kovacic, Danilo, Marco Asensio.

Real Madrid starting line-up (4-3-3): Navas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo.

TEAM NEWS: Barcelona are without Neymar due to suspension, with Paco Alcacer given the nod in attack in place of the Brazilian. It could be a front two with Lionel Messi slotted in behind. Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto start at full-back in a 4-3-1-2, with Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic offering midfield drive. Arda Turan is fit enough for the bench.

TEAM NEWS: There are no surprises in the back four for Real Madrid, with Nacho continuing at centre-back due to continued injury absences for Raphael Varane and Pepe. Casemiro anchors the midfield, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos starting alongside him. Gareth Bale is deployed on the right, after returning to training from an ankle problem on Thursday, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo completing the dangerous trio. Lucas Vazquez doesn't make the bench, with Marco Asensio preferred.

Barcelona may well have low morale after being knocked out of the Champions League midweek to Juventus, but tonight is a make-or-break contest for Blaugrana. If they lose, then a comeback in LaLiga is almost unthinkable. The pressure is definitely on the visitors, as Real Madrid can afford to draw and still maintain their advantage at the top.

Zinedine Zidane is yet to be defeated by Luis Enrique as Real Madrid boss, after taking over at the club after Rafa Benitez was responsible for a 4-0 defeat at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in his only derby in charge. Plenty has changed since then, with Los Blancos looking at lifting both the league title and the Champions League trophy.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of El Clasico, which looks to be the most important game of the LaLiga season in terms of deciding the title race. Real Madrid sit on the summit of the table with a three-point lead and a game in hand, but if Barcelona can win tonight it would throw the cat right back among the pigeons.

Real Madrid v Barcelona Live Commentary, 23/04/2017

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