STAT ATTACK! Barcelona have the chance to win three consecutive La Liga matches against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu for the first time in the clubs history.
STAT ATTACK! Real Madrid have won their last two El Clasico’s, both in the 2017 Spanish Supercopa (3-1 at Camp Nou and 2-0 at Santiago Bernabéu). The last time Real Madrid won three consecutive matches against Barcelona in all competitions came back in 1978.
Sergio Busquets returns to the fold for Barcelona this afternoon in one change from their win over Deportivo. The midfielder replaces Paco Alcacer from the victory as Valverde is expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Andres Iniesta moving to the left flank. Messi and Suarez lead the line as usual for the visitors.
Real Madrid have made one change from their Club World Cup win over Gremio last week. Zidane makes the surprising decision to start Mateo Kovacic in the heart of the midfield in place of Isco. The 23-year-old makes his first start in the league for Los Blancos this season, although he did start in both matches of Real's convincing Spanish Super Cup win over the Catalan club. Gareth Bale starts from the bench as Zidane opts for a two-man attack of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Barcelona subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Denis Suarez, Mascherano, Digne, Andre Gomes, Aleix Vidal.
BARCELONA (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Paulinho, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez.
Real Madrid subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Hernandez, Vazquez, Asensio, Isco.
REAL MADRID (4-1-3-2): Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro; Modric, Kovacic, Kroos; Benzema, Ronaldo.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Barcelona have reeled off two victories on the bounce after drawing back-to-back matches against Valencia and Celta de Vigo. The Catalan club put four goals past Deportivo last time out as Luis Suarez and Paulinho both scored twice, which came after a fine win on the road against Villarreal when Suarez and Lionel Messi found the net. There is huge incentive for Valverde's men to go all out for the victory today.
Real hammered Sevilla in their last home match before the Club World Cup. Zinedine Zidane's men scored five times in the first half to put their opponents to the sword. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace, while Nacho, Toni Kroos and Achraaf Hakimi also found the net. Los Blancos will need to be at their best this afternoon as they cannot afford to drop 14 points behind their greatest rivals at the half-way stage.
Barcelona boast an 11-point lead over Real at the top of the table going into the fixture. Ernesto Valverde's men are unbeaten in their 16 LaLiga matches this season, dropping just six points in the process. Real have suffered two defeats already this term, but return to league action having lifted the Club World Cup crown last week.
Good morning and welcome to the live commentary of El Clasico as Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
1' We're underway at the Bernabeu.
2' Real break down the left flank before Ronaldo slides the ball across to Kroos. The German releases a first-time pass to Carvajal, who wins a corner for the home side off the body of Alba.
3' DISALLOWED GOAL! Kroos lifts the ball into the box and Casemiro rises highest to head the ball at goal. His header finds Ronaldo two yards out and he guides the ball into the net, but he's in an offside position.
4' Ronaldo probes down the left and he looks for space to fire a low cross into the box, but Pique blocks his effort out for a throw-in.
5' Carvajal has the first speculative effort of the game as he goes for a drive from 35 yards, only to see his effort trickle into the hands of Ter Stegen.
7' Casemiro slides in hard on Paulinho, but the midfielder gets away without conceding a free-kick for the challenge.
9' The quality has been lacking in the early stages of the game as both sides have been guilty of giving away possession too easily.
10' MISS! Kroos surges into the left inside channel and he cuts the ball back for Ronaldo to fire at goal. However, the Portuguese fails to connect with the ball and spurns the opening. Iniesta slides at the last second to stop Carvajal latching on to the ball at the back post. The veteran midfielder is in pain and requires treatment.
12' Real probe with a deep cross into the box from the resulting corner, but the visitors are able to stand firm and clear their lines.
13' Iniesta is ok to continue after putting his body on the line at the back.
15' It has been a tentative affair so far in the contest, with Barcelona sitting back and allowing Real to dominate possession.
16' Real move forward with numbers and Ronaldo takes possession on the edge of the box, but his offload for Benzema is loose and Alba makes the interception.
18' Barca threaten for the first time in the match as Paulinho collects Sergi Roberto's pass into the right inside channel. The Brazilian tries to fire the ball across the face of goal for Suarez's run, but Casemiro makes the interception at the near post.
18' Vermaelen takes out Modric on the charge and goes into the book.
20' Alba is put under pressure at the back by Modric and has to hurry his backpass to Ter Stegen. The German's clearance is hurried and Barca lose possession as Iniesta cannot control the wild offload.
21' Ronaldo collects on the left flank and tries to deliver the ball into the box, but Sergi Roberto makes the block at the near post.
22' Marcelo slides the ball forward for Kroos, but Pique times his challenge to perfection and wins a goal-kick for the visitors.
23' Barca win their first corner of the match as Messi drifts into the right inside channel and Casemiro has to send the ball behind.
24' Real are able to clear their lines from Messi's cross, while the follow-up from Alba is also headed away as the full-back looked for Vermaelen at the back post.
25' Messi and Suarez combine for the first time and the Argentine looks to thread a throughball between Carvajal and Varane. However, the Spaniard gets across in time to block off Suarez's run.
27' The match has not really got going so far as both teams are struggling to find their best quality in possession. The contest needs a spark from one of the stars on show to open up proceedings.
28' Marcelo finds space down the left, but he sends a disappointing cross to the near post, allowing Pique to head clear.
30' SAVE! Barca almost get the breakthrough. Messi sends the ball over the top of the Real defence for Paulinho's run. The Brazilian latches on to the ball and goes for the strike, but Navas makes a brilliant save to turn the ball over the bar.
31' BLOCK & PENALTY SHOUT! Pique latches on to the resulting corner and fires at goal. He sees his effort blocked by Ramos and the defender then goes down as he tries to pounce on the rebound, but the referee dismisses his appeal for a penalty.
31' SAVE! Ronaldo is denied. The Portuguese goes on the surge down the left inside channel and fires a low effort towards the bottom corner. His strike looks goalbound, but Ter Stegen sticks out a leg to divert the ball past the post.
32' Kroos lifts the corner into the box and Ronaldo is able to get above his man to head at goal, only to send his headed effort well over the bar.
54' GOALLLLLLLL!!!!! SUAREZ STRIKES! Barcelona take the lead as the Uruguayan pounces on Sergo Roberto's pass. Rakitic leads the charge from the back and he raids forward to the edge of the box before finding Roberto on the right flank. The full-back picked out Suarez's run at the back post. The striker keeps his composure to fire his effort past Navas into the net.
54' Sergi Roberto makes a good run forward down the right and sends a low cross to the back post for Suarez to convert.
63' Carvajal blocked the ball with his hands deliberately and is sent off.
63' PENALTY TO BARCELONA! Incredible scenes at the Bernabeu. Barca open the Real defence as Messi releases Suarez, but he is denied by Navas. Messi latches on the rebound and tees up his team-mate again, but he strikes the post this time. Paulinho comes forward to aid the cause and sees his headed effort blocked by the hand of Carvajal. The Brazilian bundles the ball into the net, but the referee awards the penalty instead.
54' Sergi Roberto makes a good run forward down the right and sends a low cross to the back post for Suarez to convert.
57' WIDE! Messi finds space on the counter and he offloads to Suarez in the right inside channel. He goes for the strike from a tight angle and can only fire his effort into the side-netting.
59' Ramos goes into the book for a loose challenge on Suarez.
60' Suarez remains on the deck after taking a blow to the face from Ramos. He's fine to continue and the Real skipper is not happy with the Uruguayan.
63' Red card Daniel Carvajal Ramos
63' Carvajal blocked the ball with his hands deliberately and is sent off.
63' PENALTY TO BARCELONA! Incredible scenes at the Bernabeu. Barca open the Real defence as Messi releases Suarez, but he is denied by Navas. Messi latches on the rebound and tees up his team-mate again, but he strikes the post this time. Paulinho comes forward to aid the cause and sees his headed effort blocked by the hand of Carvajal. The Brazilian bundles the ball into the net, but the referee awards the penalty instead.
64' Penalty Goal Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
64' GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! MESSI CONVERTS! After a slight delay the Argentine steps up from the spot and drills his effort into the top corner. Barcelona have command of the match now.
78' CHANCE! Modric forces the ball across the face of goal from the right flank and the ball reaches Bale in the middle, but the Welshman can only fire a tame effort at Ter Stegen with the goal gaping.
78' Asensio latches on to a pass in the left inside channel, but Pique on the slide stops his cross from finding Ronaldo. However, the home side keep the pressure on.
78' CHANCE! Modric forces the ball across the face of goal from the right flank and the ball reaches Bale in the middle, but the Welshman can only fire a tame effort at Ter Stegen with the goal gaping.
78' CHANCE! Modric forces the ball across the face of goal from the right flank and the ball reaches Bale in the middle, but the Welshman can only fire a tame effort at Ter Stegen with the goal gaping.
79' SAVE! Bale speeds down the right before he cuts back to shoot on his left foot, but is denied by a good save from Ter Stegen, who gathers at the second attempt.
80' SAVE! Navas keeps Real in the game as he makes a good save to deny Semedo after Messi released the defender into the final third. The Portuguese fired a decent strike at goal, but the Real keeper was able to divert the ball wide of the post.
82' SAVE! Ramos latches on to a loose ball in the box after Real have an appeal for a penalty turned down. He hammers the ball towards the near post, but Ter Stegen spreads himself to make the save.
80' SAVE! Navas keeps Real in the game as he makes a good save to deny Semedo after Messi released the defender into the final third. The Portuguese fired a decent strike at goal, but the Real keeper was able to divert the ball wide of the post.
82' SAVE! Ramos latches on to a loose ball in the box after Real have an appeal for a penalty turned down. He hammers the ball towards the near post, but Ter Stegen spreads himself to make the save.
83' Yellow card Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior
83' Marcelo is booked for dissent.
83' CLOSE! Barca fail to clear their lines from the resulting corner and Ronaldo sends the ball across the face of goal for Ramos, but the skipper on the slide cannot make contact. He may have been offside anyway.
84' Gomes replaces Paulinho for the visitors.
85' Gomes latches on to Messi's lay-off in the box and he goes for the strike, but Varane is able to block the ball behind for a corner.
87' Messi searches for a third Barcelona goal with a weaving run into the box, but he gets crowded out and his eventual strike is blocked behind.
88' Yellow card Sergio Busquets i Burgos
88' Busquets brings down Marcelo and goes into the book.
88' SAVE! Messi latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and strikes at goal, and although Navas gets down in time, it's not a comfortable save for the Real keeper.
88' Busquets brings down Marcelo and goes into the book.
90' There will be three minutes of added time.
90' + 1' OVER! Gomes has space and time in the box after being teed up by Messi, but he blasts his effort over the bar.
90' + 1' Vidal replaces Sergi Roberto for the visitors.
90' + 3' GOALLLLLLLLLl!!!!!! VIDAL NOTCHES BARCA'S THIRD GOAL! The Catalan club pour on the agony for Zidane's men as Messi weaves down the right flank and cuts the ball back for Vidal. He only arrived on the pitch a minute ago and he drills his effort through Navas before the ball trickles over the line.
90' + 3' Messi raids down the right flank before cutting the ball back to Vidal to strike home.
88' Busquets brings down Marcelo and goes into the book.
90' There will be three minutes of added time.
90' + 1' OVER! Gomes has space and time in the box after being teed up by Messi, but he blasts his effort over the bar.
90' + 1' Vidal replaces Sergi Roberto for the visitors.
90' + 3' GOALLLLLLLLLl!!!!!! VIDAL NOTCHES BARCA'S THIRD GOAL! The Catalan club pour on the agony for Zidane's men as Messi weaves down the right flank and cuts the ball back for Vidal. He only arrived on the pitch a minute ago and he drills his effort through Navas before the ball trickles over the line.
90' + 3' Messi raids down the right flank before cutting the ball back to Vidal to strike home.
90' + 3' The referee ends the contest.
FLASHBACK! Messi's late winner guided Barcelona to a 3-2 victory over Real in this fixture last season. Casemiro put Zidane's men ahead at the Bernabeu, only for Messi to equalise and Ivan Rakitic put Barca ahead with 17 minutes left in the contest. James Rodriguez looked to have earned a point for Los Blancos, but Messi's late strike earned the visitors all three points. Valverde will be desperate for a repeat of that result today.