Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the El Clasico showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Estadio Bernabeu. This is a truly massive clash at the top of La Liga, with just three points separating the two heavyweight sides heading into the final month of another intriguing campaign in the Spanish top flight.

Los Blancos still have a game in hand to play on their rivals, meaning that the onus is very much on the visitors to go all out for the victory this evening. It is also worth pointing out that head-to-head comes into effect to separate teams on the same number of points if required, so a win for the Catalan club on enemy territory and they will temporarily climb to the summit and really increase the pressure.

In the reverse fixture in early December, Sergio Ramos - who else?! - popped up with a 90th-minute header at Camp Nou as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. That point kept Madrid six clear at the time and, while a lot has happened since the mid-season break, it is still they who lead at the top of the table. That current three-point advantage could completely disintegrate by 10pm tonight, though, so there is plenty on the line.

Madrid have lost just the two games all season in La Liga, the last of which came against Valencia 10 matches ago. They have been near perfect since then, dropping points in a battling 3-3 draw with Las Palmas here and also being held by arch-rivals Atletico Madrid a fortnight ago. We saw two sides of Los Blancos in those aforementioned outings; the Atleti draw seeing them pegged back after leading, while the opposite was true in the other game.

The day of the Atletico draw here, with Antonio Greizmann cancelling out Pepe in the final 10 minutes, could well prove to be a pivotal one - it is certainly looking that way. It was seen as two points dropped at the time, even if the capital side did end a run of successive league defeats at home to their rivals, yet Barca failed to capitalise and went down 2-0 to Malaga in the evening kickoff. A fatal blow to their title hopes? It remains to be seen.

During their most recent unbeaten run of league form, which currently spans 10 matches, Madrid have scored 25 and conceded 13. If anything, those stats go a long way to showing just how entertaining they can be to watch, with their games seemingly contractually obliged to contain some sort of twist. Throw hated rivals Barcelona into the mix and you have the formula required for a potential thriller under the Bernabeu lights.

While it was Atletico who battled back two weeks ago in Real's last outing here, it is so often they who are the ones to come from behind - a case in point being last weekend's victory over Sporting Gijon. Los Blancos scored twice in the final half hour to squeeze out a 3-2 win, coming out on top at El Molinon with a weakened side. Gareth Bale was injured for that one, while Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo did not travel with the squad.

The famed 'BBC' trio are all in the squad tonight, however, and if fit Zinedine Zidane will field all three. The likes of Isco, the scorer of a brace at Gijon last time out, and Marco Asensio have done very well when called upon, yet Zidane has made it clear that he will always go with Bale, Benzema and Cristiano if they are available. The big question mark is over Bale, who has struggled with a calf strain of late.

Real have shown very few signs of slipping up since reaching the top of the table, taking 23 points from the last 27 on offer. Even when they did uncharacteristically drop point, Barca were hardly there to pounce, accruing two points fewer over the same timeframe. The two sides have won the same number of games over the course of the season; the big difference is that Madrid have managed to grind out draws more often.

When looking at the two squads, it can be justifiably argued that Madrid simply have the stronger squad. So often this season Zidane has rolled the dice and his gamble has paid off, with key men coming off the bench to score massive goals. You do not tend to associate Real Madrid as a side willing to do the dirty work and grind out results, but so often this term they have simply done what they have needed to to remain afloat at the top.

Real Madrid head into tonight's final El Clasico showdown of the season sitting three points above their rivals and still have a game in hand to play. Victory for Barcelona really is the only outcome that will keep the excitement alive in La Liga, it is fair to say, as they will move top with three points thanks to a superior head-to-head record.

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Zidane's men have conceded 33 goals so far this term at a rate of a little over a goal per game, but they make up for that in attack due to the brilliance of their forward players. Eighty-two times they have found the net so far, second only to Barcelona, only going to highlight how entertaining they have been to watch on the whole. Madrid are still battling in the Champions League, too, after narrowly overcoming Bayern Munich in midweek.

Los Blancos required extra time to get the job done against their fellow European heavyweights, being pegged back in normal time and finding themselves on the ropes at one stage. When you have Cristiano Ronaldo in your team then you are never truly down and out, however, and the Portuguese proved his worth yet again - even after being jeered by his own fans - by completing his hat-trick in extra time.

All eyes were on Nyon on Friday morning for the semi-final draw, which saw Real and Atletico paired together - again! Atleti are fast becoming a heavyweight side on the continent, having reached two finals and a semi in the past few years, each time coming unstuck against their city rivals. That one really is too tight to call, but the reward at the end of it is a final meeting against either AS Monaco or Juventus.

It remains to be seen just how fatigued Real will be feeling tonight after that pulsating quarter-final showdown with Bayern in midweek. Barcelona were also in action a few days ago, but unlike their Spanish title rivals they were unable to squeeze through, falling to a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Juventus. The damage was very much done in the first leg, meaning that the goalless draw on Wednesday did them no good.

Zidane will not let his players' eyes wander between now and that semi-final clash with Atletico, however, especially if tonight's game ends in defeat. A draw would also keep things alive, although a look at the fixtures shows that Los Blancos would still be strong favourites to get the job done. They face four bottom-half sides in the final month, as well as Barca tonight and fourth-placed Sevilla further down the line.

PLAYER FOCUS! El Clasico may see two of the world's greatest side face off, and indeed countless big-name superstars lock horns, but all eyes are as ever on two men in particular tonight. Sergi Rob-- no. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who will continue their own personal feud on the Bernabeu pitch as they each seek dominance. Ronaldo has 16 goals in this fixture overall, which is just two fewer than Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano. Messi, meanwhile, is five further ahead.

Messi netted a hat-trick in this fixture in 2014 but, incredibly, has not found a way through in the six matches since then - his worst run of form against Madrid. Overall, Ronaldo has scored 27 times this season - 19 of those coming in La Liga - while his arch-nemesis has scored a whopping 45, including 29 in the top flight thanks to four braces in his last six outings.

TEAM NEWS!

REAL MADRID XI: Navas; Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema

BARCELONA XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Alcacer

Switching attention to tonight's team news, Real Madrid have been boosted by the return of fit-again forward Gareth Bale. The Welshman has missed a vast majority of the campaign through injury, the latest of which has kept him sidelined for second leg of Los Blancos' quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich in midweek. Bale is joined in attack by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

Zidane already knew that he would be without Madrid derby goalscorer Pepe and fellow central defender Raphael Varane for tonight's clash, leaving him with just two specialised players to link up in the heart of defence. Sergio Ramos, the scorer of a late leveller in the reverse fixture back in December, partners Nacho, while Marcelo - so key against Bayern last time out - and Dani Carvajal occupy the full-back berths.

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Carvajal is one of those who was left out for the match against Gijon last weekend due to the risk of suspension, a similar reason why Ronaldo was told not to bother travelling with the squad. The Spaniard was a slight fitness concern for this El Clasico showdown, but he is given the nod to start, as is Toni Kroos in central midfield after himself picking up a knock. The advanced six players in this 4-3-3 formation very much pick themselves.

In terms of the visitors, there had been some confusion over whether Neymar would be given the green light to feature at the Bernabeu. The Brazilian was shown two yellows in that 2-0 defeat to Malaga a fortnight ago, usually meaning an automatic one-match ban, but that was extended to three domestic games due to his sarcastic applause in the fourth official's direction.

Barcelona were unhappy about that decision and, in a desperate attempt to make him free to play tonight, took the appeal to the Spanish Football Federation. That was rejected, so instead they turned to Spain's Court for Sport - the emergency hearing was adjourned on Saturday, meaning that it looked like he would be available for selection, but Barca confirmed earlier today that he is out. Paco Alcacer, and not Arda Turan, takes his place in attack.

There is no Aleix Vidal, who will miss the remainder of the season, and Rafinha is also absent from the squad. Javier Mascherano is another who was doubtful for this huge match in the Spanish capital, but he is a part of the matchday squad. Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic are given the nod in a three-man central midfield, playing behind Lionel Messi, Suarez and the aforementioned Alcacer.

BENCH WATCH!

REAL MADRID SUBS: Casilla, Asensio, Isco, Danilo, Kovacic, Morata, Rodriguez

BARCELONA SUBS: Cilessen, Alena, Digne, Gomes, Mascherano, D. Suarez, Turan

As touched upon a little earlier, Madrid so often overpower teams in he latter stages of games due to the strength of the bench. Asensio and Isco have both impressed when given a chance of late, the latter proving the hero with a two-goal showing at El Molinon last weekend, while James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata are also quality options who could make many starting lineups the world over. At the Bernabeu, they are restricted to cameo roles - but vital roles they are!

Far from the strongest of Barcelona benches, meanwhile, with Arda Turan and Denis Suarez two of their more recognisable options to turn to. Turan will perhaps feel disappointed to have missed out on inclusion from the off, with Alcacer instead given the nod, while the less said about Andre Gomes the better - he has not got going at all since a big-money move from Valencia last summer.

The Catalan club certainly have the incentive to go all out for the three points tonight, knowing that they will effectively be out of the title race with defeat. For the first time in a decade Barca could fail to either win the La Liga title or make it to the final of the Champions League, yet victory tonight and all of a sudden the domestic double is back on ahead of their Copa del Rey final showdown with Alaves next month.

It seems as though Barcelona have simply been playing catch up all season, particularly in Europe following heavy first-leg defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and then Juventus. The second-leg comeback against PSG will live long in the memory, but they did not have enough in the tank to do likewise against Juve in midweek, being held to a goalless draw that brings their European journey to a disappointing end.

Up until their first-leg thrashing against Juve the Catalan giants were still on course for a treble, even if it did look unlikely. They are strong favourites to win the Copa del Rey in what will be Luis Enrique's farewell match, and they will move top of La Liga with a handful of fixtures to play if they come out on top tonight. Ultimately, though, it is looking like the Spanish Cup is their only hope of taking some sort of solace from a tough campaign.

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Enrique joked after the impressive comeback against PSG last month that maybe he had announced his decision to leave Barca a little too soon. The comment was made tongue firmly in cheek, but he did have a point. The Catalans were in a strong position back then, but a 2-0 defeat to Malaga soon after put a massive nail in his coffin and has left his side playing catch up once again. Still plenty to play for, but it is all now down to this one game.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Real Madrid, perhaps unsurprisingly, have inflicted more defeats on Barcelona (72) than any other team has managed, while the reverse is also true - the Catalan club's 68 triumphs against their opponents unrivalled. Los Blancos have lost twice in the last six El Clasico meetings at the Estadio Bernabeu, including the last clash here in November 2015 that finished in a 4-0 defeat.

It is fair to say that Barcelona have lacked their usual aura this season, as highlighted with defeats away to Malaga when so toothless in attack and losing 2-0 to a goal in either half. They also lost to Deportivo six weeks ago, fresh on the back of their mammoth win over PSG at Camp Nou, while dropping points on their travels over the duration of the campaign to Real Betis, Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo.

Throw a shock home loss to fellow Copa del Rey finalists Alaves into the mix and you can see just why they have failed to match Real so far this term. The Catalan giants recently put together a six-match winning run in the Spanish top flight, scoring a whopping 24 goals in the process, which gave them real hope of overhauling their rivals at the summit. Los Blancos have simply held their nerve, though, dropping points just twice in the past few months.

That defeat away to Malaga recently really did feel defining, making it two losses and four wins in their last six - simply not good enough when playing catch-up. Barca did at least see off Real Sociedad 3-2 last weekend in a thriller of sorts at Camp Nou; all the goals in that one coming in a condensed period in the first half. Despite their aforementioned away struggles, Enrique's men are second only to Real Madrid with 33 points on their travels.

The difference is that Madrid are yet to taste defeat at the Bernabeu this season, and even a repeat of their draws to Las Palmas and Atletico Madrid here in recent weeks would not be the worst of results for them tonight. Barcelona have the tougher run of fixtures to come, facing city rivals Espanyol in a week's time after a home clash with Osasuna, while also taking on Villarreal, Los Palmas and Eibar in their remaining matches.

Barcelona do not have any remaining European commitments to worry about, though, so they may feel fresher over the remaining month as Real take on Atletico in an explosive double-header. The Catalans have netted in each of their last 22 competitive meetings with tonight's opponents - the best run of either side in El Clasico history. You would back them to score at least once tonight, even without Neymar, but Madrid will no doubt hit back.

DID YOU KNOW? Real Madrid have not lost in the last two El Clasico meetings in La Liga, which is their best run since Jose Mourinho was in charge in 2013. Los Blancos have netted in each of their last 43 league matches stretching over the past couple of seasons - a record which only Barcelona, with 64 in 2013, can better.

Luis Enrique has the chance to bow out of Camp Nou with one final piece of silverware next month when Barcelona face Alaves in the Copa del Rey final. That will be their absolute minimum target, however, in a campaign that looks like being the first in a decade not to see them either win the league title or reach the final of the Champions League.

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With kickoff at the Bernabeu now exactly 10 minutes away, let us check out some pre-match comments from both camps.

Zinedine Zidane: "I don't know if there's a category for [Ronaldo]. What you see Cristiano doing is really impressive. The goals, the way he finishes them, in such key, important moments. He always knows when there's an important occasion, he's going to be there. It is out of any sort of category. There are few players who can to do what Ronaldo has done and we all know that."

Luis Enrique: "It will be difficult to lift my players up after this, but it will be easy to motivate them. We have the best stimulus that any fan could ask for which is that we play against our eternal rival. There's no better place to go than the Bernabeu. We have the chance to get back in the fight for La Liga in a six-pointer against the side top of the league. I love being involved at a club as ambitious as this."

Zidane was keen to talk up the ability of Ronaldo in the build-up to this El Clasico showdown, and you can hardly blame him. CR7 scored yet another hat-trick in midweek, taking his tally for the season to 27 goals, while in this fixture he stands alone with 16 strikes to his name - two fewer than Alfredo di Stefano and five away from matching Messi, who has not netted since 2014.

Enrique admits that it will be "difficult" to lift his players on the back of their Champions League exit a few days back, but he rightly points out that they should be fired up once stepping into the cauldron that is the Bernabeu. It has been a tough fortnight for the Catalans, having lost heavily to Juventus and been held to a draw, while also being beaten 2-0 by Malaga, but they are still in with a shot of winning La Liga.

PREDICTION! This is a tough one to call, as ever, in a match between two real heavyweights of the world game. Defeat for Barcelona and surely winning the title is out of the picture, but victory and they will climb top with a superior head-to-head record, albeit having played a game more than their rivals. A draw would not be the worst result, but the remaining fixtures favour Real so they will surely go all out for the win. 1-2.

Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff in the Spanish capital just a couple of minutes away. All the pre-match talk is over with, now it is down to the players to perform. Real Madrid are unbeaten in two El Clasico matches, but the last time the two sides faced off here Barcelona triumphed 4-0 in November 2015. Here we go...

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KICKOFF! Real Madrid get this latest El Clasico showdown under way, attempting to maintain their three-point advantage - or even extend it - come the end of the 90 minutes. Barcelona, quite simply, cannot afford to lose.

PENALTY APPEAL! A huge call for referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez to make inside the opening minute of the match. Umtiti caught the leg of Ronaldo and got none of the ball, but the official did not have a clear view of it and waved the appeals away.

A dominant start from the league leaders, as Carvajal gets to the byline but is unable to pick out a teammate - Bale the man best placed. A cross then came in from the right, but it was a little too deep for Benzema at the back post.

SAVE! Real hit their opponents on the counter, with Kroos giving Ronaldo a chance to chase down the ball. Chase it down he does and, after cutting inside, there was only one thing on his mind - take on the shot, which Ter Stegen got behind.

Casemiro and Ramos combine to take Suarez out of the game on the edge of the box, and the Barca striker stays down clutching his chest. Looked to have caught the knee of Ramos in his rubs, but he is now OK to continue.

SHOT! Barca's best move of the match so far, culminating in Iniesta cutting the ball back for Luis Suarez on the edge of the box. The Uruguayan was not too far wide, sending the ball flying past Navas's post.

YELLOW CARD! A pretty needless booking for Casemiro, who fouls Messi right on the halfway line to rightly earn an early caution. The Brazil international is in the side to put in strong tackles, but he is now walking a tightrope.

Bale is on the right-hand side this evening, incidentally, up against Alba. Barcelona have seen more of the ball in the past five minutes or so, after a dominant Real start, but they have yet to test Navas with an attempt on target.

First piece of Messi brilliance of the night, as he weaved his way through from the halfway line but opted to try to pick out a teammate in the box rather than going on himself. The wrong choice in the end, as it was overhit.

SAVE! A lovely cushioned pass allowed Suarez to take on the volley from the edge of the box, but he cannot keep it on target. Up the other end, Modric's run ends with Benzema's weak attempt being kept out by Ter Stegen.

SAVE! Messi has just taken a blow to the face - Marcelo leading with his arm and catching his fellow South American. Prior to that, Ronaldo's curler was heading for the bottom corner if not for a big Ter Stegen stop.

Bale goes for the element of surprise but cannot find a way through, as the Madrid shot count continues to tick over. Messi now back on the field of play, holding a tissue to his bloodied mouth after that collision with Marcelo.

The ball looked like running through for Bale, who just squandered that half-decent chance, but Ronaldo instead takes over and curls a shot over the crossbar. Seven or eight attempts from Los Blancos in the opening 25 minutes.

Benzema gives possession away cheaply when he had Ronaldo waiting to be played in. Real, bar a five-minute spell, have been in completely control of the match and probably should have opened the scoring by now.

All the superstar forward on display and it is defensive midfielder Casemiro who opens the scoring! A scrappy goal it was, too, as Ramos's back-post shot from a deep cross came off the post and rolled across for the Brazilian to tap in.

A deserved goal for Madrid on the basis of the opening 30 minutes. Barcelona have made a couple of openings, but they have yet to test Navas and are not really into their rhythm in this El Clasico showdown at the Bernabeu.

Superb goal from Messi, who has ended his El Clasico duck. Six games without scoring in this fixture, stretching back to 2014, but he weaved his way past a couple of bodies and tucked home from Barcelona's first attempt on target.

SAVE! As ever, it has been a gripping first half in this heavyweight tussle at the top of La Liga. Another good save from Ter Stegen, this time to keep out an absolute bullet from Modric on the edge of the box.

Real Madrid are temporarily down to 10 men as Bale has hobbled down the tunnel with another muscle injury. Asensio the most likely to be introduced by Zidane in the next few minutes, with half time fast approaching.

REAL MADRID SUB! It is indeed Asensio who is introduced for the injured Bale. The youngster has done well when turned to this term, netting nine times in all competitions. Umtiti has just been booked for a lunge on Ronaldo.

A shot from the edge of the Madrid box deflects behind. The referee clearly did not spot it, though, because a goal-kick was instead awarded, as we enter the final two minutes of normal time at the end of this first half.

Half a chance for Alba racing in at the back post, but he was unable to turn his shot on goal under some pressure 15 yards out. It was Messi with that previous shot, incidentally, which deflected wide only for a goal-kick to be given.

A big, big chance goes begging for Messi from the final kick of the first half. Suarez blocked off the path of Navas from a corner and Messi was at the back post with a big area of the net to aim for, but he somehow fired wide. Before that, Casemiro was lucky to avoid a second yellow for a cynical block. All square at the break - one apiece.

Madrid felt that they should have had a penalty with less than three minutes on the clock after Samuel Umtiti clumsily caught Cristiano Ronaldo's leg, but referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez decided against pointing to the spot. The hosts completely dominated the early stages of the match, with Ronaldo and Karim Benzema both forcing saves out of opposition keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barcelona had a couple of half-chances of their own, the best of which saw Luis Suarez send a shot flying past Keylor Navas's goal from the edge of the box, having also blasted over on the volley. The breakthrough arrived just short of the half-hour mark through one of the more unlikely sources, as Casemiro was in the right place at the right time to tap the ball over the line after Sergio Ramos's initial attempt hit the post and rolled across goal.

It took just four minutes for Barca to level things up, however, thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Lionel Messi, who weaved past a couple of players and picked his spot for his first El Clasico goal in seven outings. By ending that three-year drought without a goal against Real, the Argentinian also edged ahead of Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano as the top scorer in this fixture.

Ter Stegen was required once again to keep out a bullet attempt from Luka Modric, moments before Gareth Bale hobbled off with another muscular problem to be replaced by nine-goal midfielder Marco Asensio. Still plenty to play for in the second half, then, with the scoreline finely poised at 1-1. Here is a quick reminder of the two sets of subs at this midway point...

REAL MADRID SUBS: Casilla, Isco, Danilo, Kovacic, Morata, Rodriguez

BARCELONA SUBS: Cilessen, Alena, Digne, Gomes, Mascherano, D. Suarez, Turan

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RESTART! We are back under way at the Estadio Bernabeu, where there is no news of any half-time changes from either camp. Barcelona need a goal in this second half if they are to realistically overhaul Real Madrid at the summit.

Asensio is such a promising attacker, driving at the Barca backline and then playing it out wide. The cross was destined for Benzema to tap home, if not for a fine Pique block to help the ball behind for a corner kick.

SAVE! Similar to the first half, Los Blancos are much quicker out of the blocks and attacking in number. A Kroos drive was creeping in off the post, but Ter Stegen pulled off the second real top-quality save of the night.

SAVE! Glorious chances for Benzema to put his side back in front, but he could only head Marcelo's cross pretty much right at Ter Stegen. Credit to the Barca man for positioning himself well, because he was second favourite to win that battle.

CHANCE! How big could these missed chances at both ends prove to be when the points are totted up? The ball fell nicely for Paco Alcacer, who could not prod it beyond Navas when essentially one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

SAVE! Cannot take your eyes off this one. Pique with a real bullet header, but Navas was equal to it with two big palms to ensure that the scoreline remains at 1-1. That third goal of the match will surely arrive soon!

It appears as though Enrique will make a change in the next few minutes, while Zidane is holding off for now if the activity down on the touchline is anything to go by. Truly massive final 30 minutes ahead at the Bernabeu.

A few mistakes starting to creep in now, with both teams looking a tad sloppy of the past few minutes. Got to wonder how fatigued the Madrid players are feeling, having played 120 minutes in midweek against Bayern Munich here.

Carvajal, the only outfield Madrid player without a goal this term, weaves past a couple of players but runs into a sea of bodies. Risks are now being taken by Barcelona, who know that they really need a goal to keep the title race fully alive.

Still we await the first changes of the second period, with a little over 25 minutes left on the clock. The chances have dried up all of a sudden, but still the attacking intent from both teams is quite clear to see.

Asensio with a decent delivery from the right-hand side, which Ronaldo should have done more with. The Portuguese went for the spectacular with an acrobatic attempt, but he was unable to find the target with a flat effort.

CHANCES! A crazy 60-second spell as Ronaldo failed to convert from seven yards out when Asensio squared the ball to him, before Suarez was denied at the back post when looking to fire past Navas. Both should have scored.

SUBS! Casemiro, perhaps fortunate not to have been dismissed in the first half, is replaced by Kovacic for the final 20 minutes - a smart change. A bit of tweaking for the visitors, too, as Gomes is on for Alcacer up top.

An absolute beauty from Rakitic may have just blown the title race wide open! The Croat worked some space on the edge of the box and curled it beyond the reach of Navas, sparking scenes of joy on the Barcelona bench. This one is not over yet!

SHOT! Ronaldo with a weak shot down the middle, which Ter Stegen is happy to collect. It will be interesting to see how Barca approach these final 15 minutes - do they sit back and invite pressure or instead fight fire with fire?

RED CARD! For the second Clasico clash in a row here, Ramos is dismissed by referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez. Looked questionable at first, but replays show that it was the right call as he lunged in on Messi two footed.

A 22nd red card for Ramos in his career, and what a costly one this latest one could be. Barcelona now in the driving seat heading into the final 10 minutes, knowing that top spot is theirs as things stand at the Bernabeu.

SAVE! Pique with a chance to seal the win, bringing the ball under control when left on his own in the box but firing at Navas when one-on-one. That was Barca's big opening to surely put three more points on the board.

YELLOW CARD! Mateo Kovacic is shown a yellow card for a strong challenge on Messi, who has well and truly been in the wars today. James Rodriguez is now on in place of Benzema - the Frenchman not really having the finest of games.

On the field for a matter of moments, Rodriguez gets the beating of his man with a simple front-post run to tuck Marcelo's cross into the roof of Ter Stegen's net. With that goal, Los Blancos are now back top of the table!

SAVE! Madrid going all out for the win, rather incredibly. James looked to tuck the ball past Ter Stegen, but the Barca stopper got down well to keep it out. There is still time left for one of these times to find a winner.

SAVE! Asensio denied by Ter Stegen and Ronaldo then unable to convert. Good stop from the Barca man at his front post, with Madrid the team asking all the questions in the dying embers of this thrilling affair.

OH MY WORD!!!! A 500th Barcelona goal for Messi, at the Bernabeu of all places, has just completely changed the complexion at the top of La Liga. From one of the last acts of the game, the ball was cut back to the little maestro and he beautifully tucked home.

Where to even begin summing that game up? It was everything it was billed up to be - and more! Casemiro's opener feels like a lifetime ago, as Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic helped to cancel it out, before James Rodriguez bagged what appeared to be a dramatic late leveller. Madrid pushed for a third and were caught out, with Messi winning the match with the final meaningful kick of the game.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Estadio Bernabeu. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while a recap of all the day's results can be seen here. Thanks for joining us for this thrilling El Clasico showdown!