Cristiano Ronaldo's equaliser has ensured that Real Madrid are level at 1-1 with Barcelona at the halfway stage of El Clasico.

Despite spending much of the early stages on the back foot, it was the visitors who created the first clear chance when Ronaldo found space at the back post to rattle the bar from Karim Benzema's cross.

Real kept the pressure on in the next few minutes, with Isco firing a shot just wide before Sergio Ramos headed over moments later.

However, it was the hosts who made the breakthrough 19 minutes into the game as Jeremy Mathieu powered a header past Iker Casillas after being picked out by Lionel Messi's inch-perfect free kick.

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Barcelona should have doubled their lead when a low cross somehow managed to reach Neymar, but the Brazilian could only miscues his effort into the hands of Casillas from a few yards out and the home side would immediately pay for the miss.

Luka Modric's pass forward was followed by a clever back-heel from Benzema, and Ronaldo collected the ball before poking his low shot past Claudio Bravo.

Real finished the first half strongly, and twice went close to taking the lead as Bravo tipped over Ronaldo's long-range strike before Gareth Bale dragged a shot wide from inside a congested box.