Real Madrid v Barcelona Live Commentary & Result, 01/03/2020, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	RMA Real Madrid	38	26	9	3	70	25	+45	87	D W W W W
2	BAR Barcelona	38	25	7	6	86	38	+48	82	W L W W W
3	ATM Atlético Madrid	38	18	16	4	51	27	+24	70	D W W D W
4	SEV Sevilla	38	19	13	6	54	34	+20	70	W D W W W
5	VIL Villarreal	38	18	6	14	63	49	+14	60	W L L W L
6	RSO Real Sociedad	38	16	8	14	56	48	+8	56	D D W L D
7	GRA Granada	38	16	8	14	52	45	+7	56	W W L W D
8	GET Getafe	38	14	12	12	43	37	+6	54	L L D L D
9	VAL Valencia	38	14	11	13	46	53	-7	53	L W L W D
10	OSA Osasuna	38	13	13	12	46	54	-8	52	D W W L D
11	ATH Athletic Club	38	13	12	13	41	38	+3	51	L L W L L
12	LEV Levante	38	14	7	17	47	53	-6	49	W W L L D
13	VLD Real Valladolid	38	9	15	14	32	43	-11	42	W L L L W
14	EIB Eibar	38	11	9	18	39	56	-17	42	L W W D L
15	BET Real Betis	38	10	11	17	48	60	-12	41	L L L W D
16	ALA Deportivo Alavés	38	10	9	19	34	59	-25	39	L W D L L
17	CEL Celta de Vigo	38	7	16	15	37	49	-12	37	D L L D D
18	LEG Leganés	38	8	12	18	30	51	-21	36	D W W D W
19	MLL Mallorca	38	9	6	23	40	65	-25	33	D L L W L
20	ESP Espanyol	38	5	10	23	27	58	-31	25	D L L L L

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.

It’s all over in El Clasico and it is Real Madrid who take the bragging rights thanks to a superb second-half display, with a strike from Vinicius and a late, late goal from substitute Mariano securing Zidane’s first home victory over Barcelona in LaLiga.

90' + 3' FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 2-0 BARCELONA.

Dani Carvajal

Assist

90' + 2' 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.

M. Díaz

Goal

90' + 2' 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.

M. Díaz

K. Benzema

90' + 1' A final change for Madrid. Benzema is off, with Mariano on.

90' + 1' 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.

Lucas Vázquez

F. Valverde

86' Another change from Madrid. Valverde – who receives a standing ovation from the home fans - makes way for Vazquez.

85' Vinicius’ goal means the teenager – at the age of 19 years and 233 days – has become the youngest Clasico goalscorer in LaLiga in the 21st century, breaking the record previously held by Messi.

L. Messi

Yellow Card

85' 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.

84' CLOSE AGAIN! Almost a second for Madrid and for Vinicius, who charged through one-on-one with Ter Stegen, but Barca’s goalkeeper rushes out to make a fantastic stop.

83' CHANCE! Messi whips in a brilliant free-kick from the left flank. Pique gets on the end of it but, despite being unmarked from six yards out, heads wide of Madrid’s goal.

Ansu Fati

A. Griezmann

81' 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.

I. Rakitić

Arthur

80' The other Barca switch sees Arthur go off, with Rakitic – who has scored some stunning goals in huge games in the past – coming on.

80' 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.

L. Modrić

Isco

79' 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.

75' Outstanding defending from Marcelo and Varane, who both charge back to deny Messi a path to goal. However, there was no support for the Argentine, and that is not what we’re used to seeing from Barca. They simply have to get more players forward.

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!

T. Kroos

Assist

71' 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.

Vinícius Júnior

Goal

71' 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!

70' Wow! What a start that almost was for Braithwaite! Immediately, the striker’s pace gives Barca another option and he races clear of Marcelo before getting a shot off. Courtois, however, makes another huge stop.

M. Braithwaite

A. Vidal

69' 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.

64' CHANCE! Madrid are all over Barca at the moment and the visitors are hugely fortunate not to be behind. Ter Stegen played a dreadful pass into midfield, with Carvajal reacting sharply to intercept. He then chips a cross over to Benzema at the far post, but he can’t keep his volley down.

62' SO CLOSE! Pique comes to the rescue for Barca! Isco’s header evaded Ter Stegen, but the centre-back was on the line behind his goalkeeper and made the block. Madrid are really in the ascendency at the moment, as Kroos lifts another long-range strike over.

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.

56' WHAT A SAVE! Barca switch off defensively from a corner and Isco is given far too much space and time 25 yards out. He wastes no time in curling a strike towards the top-right corner, and only a magnificent stop from Ter Stegen prevents Barca falling behind.

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.

52' Barca have won the last four Clasicos at Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga, becoming the only team to win four consecutive away games against Madrid in the competition’s history in the process.

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!

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.

A fairly even, tense and rather cagey first half has come to an end. Though much of the play has come in midfield, both sides have had chances, with Courtois the busier of the goalkeepers, making two fine saves to deny Arthur and Messi respectively.

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.

39' CHANCE! Another massive save from Courtois, who reacts brilliantly to deny Messi. Barca’s number 10 looked set to go through one-on-one, but Varane had got across quickly to close off the space and force a snapshot.

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.

34' SAVE! That’s a huge stop from Courtois! Arthur gets the better of Kroos and suddenly finds himself one-on-one with Madrid’s goalkeeper. The Brazil midfielder attempts to lob a chip into the right-hand corner, but Courtois stands firm to make a superb stop.

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.

27' Well, Benzema was just inches away from ending his poor run of scoring form against Barca there! Valverde got down the right and curled in a wonderful cross, but Benzema was just caught short of latching onto it and tucking home.

25' Benzema has scored nine goals in 39 appearances in El Clasico in all competitions, the last one in August 2017. Since then, the Frenchman has gone seven games without scoring against Barcelona in all comps, his worst such run in the fixture.

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.

21' CHANCE! That’s a huge opportunity for Barca! Messi slips a neat pass out to Alba, who timed his run to perfection and drills in a cutback towards the waiting Griezmann. The goal is gaping but the former Atletico Madrid star sends his effort way over the bar.

Jordi Alba

Yellow Card

19' Alba did not seem to do too much wrong in that incident but, nevertheless, has also gone into the book.

Dani Carvajal

Yellow Card

19' 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.

18' Should Barca triumph today, it would be the second time Madrid have lost successive LaLiga games under Zidane.

16' Over! Benzema works hard to force Ter Stegen into an error, as the goalkeeper only manages to pick out a white shirt with a poor clearance. Marcelo then slides it down the left to Vinicius, who cuts it back to Kroos. However, the Germany international can’t keep his shot down.

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.

Vinícius Júnior

Yellow Card

10' 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.

7' Barcelona have won more LaLiga games against Madrid than any other side, while Los Blancos have beaten Barcelona more than any other side in the competition. In both respects, the number of victories for each side is 72.

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!

The teams are out at Santiago Bernabeu, where the atmosphere is truly electric. Kick-off is moments away!

Setien has made two alterations from the side which drew with Napoli in the Champions League in midweek. Firpo drops out with Alba returning from injury, while Arthur replaces Rakitic. It means there is a landmark appearance for Messi, who becomes the first Barca player to feature in 43 Clasico fixtures, overtaking his former team-mate Xavi.

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.

Madrid succumbed to a Manchester City comeback in the Champions League in their last outing but Zidane has made just two changes to his team – Modric making way for Kroos in midfield while Marcelo comes in for Mendy at left-back.

TEAM NEWS – REAL MADRID SUBS: Alphonse Areola, Eder Militao, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Lucas Vazquez, Ferland Mendy, Mariano Diaz.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Real Madrid v Barcelona Live Commentary, 01/03/2020

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