Real Madrid vs Barcelona el clasico: Lionel Messi goal secures incredible victory after Sergio Ramos red card
Re-live all the action from el clascio at the Bernabeu
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Barcelona kept their La Liga title hopes very much alive with a thrilling 3-2 el clasico victory over Real Madrid to draw level with their great rivals and inject the end of their campaign with a welcome boost of momentum, with Lionel Messi once again proving the Catalans' saviour after Sergio Ramos was sent-off. Re-live the action here.
- Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona
- Casemiro put Real ahead before Lionel Messi equalised
- Ivan Rakitic then put Barca ahead in the second half
- Sergio Ramos given straight red card for vicious tackle on Messi
- James Rodriguez came off the bench to equalise for 10-man Real
- Messi struck 10 seconds before full-time to secure the victory
What time does it start?
The match will kick off at 7.45pm BST on Sunday 23 April.
Where can I watch it?
It will be shown live on Sky Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7.00pm.
It's a big game for...
Luis Enrique. With Barcelona trailing league leaders Real by three points, the Barcelona manager heads into this fixture knowing only a win can reignite his chances of bidding farewell to the club on the back of a league and cup double.
The same haul last year was largely seen as a failure. Bowing out of the championship picture now, as the only club of the big three to exit the Champions League, would mean that even winning the Copa del Rey next month couldn't save the 46-year-old from exiting on a low. It's all nothing for Enrique.
Remember when...
Barcelona ran four past their rivals in late 2015? Luis Suarez struck twice at the Bernabeu in a dominant victory that saw Barca move six points clear at the top of La Liga.
Player to watch...
Isco: This could be the game that the midfielder has been waiting for. With Gareth Bale unlikely to feature, despite returning to training on Thursday, Isco has been tipped to start for Zinedine Zidane's side.
Gifted and versatile, the player's recent form suggests he is finally poised to achieve something he has yet to manage at the Bernabeu: becoming a firm fixture in the Real starting line-up. His last-minute winner against Sporting Gijon this month showed what he is capable of and suggests Enrique's men should treat him with respect on Sunday.
Past three meetings...
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 1
La Liga, December 2016
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 2
La Liga, April 2016
Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 4
La Liga, November 2015
Form
Real Madrid: WWWDWW
Barcelona: DWLLWW
Odds
Real Madrid to win: 21/20
Barcelona to win: 21/10
Draw: 29/10
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Sunday's el clasico.
Real Madrid and Barcelona meet at the Santiago Bernabeu with the title race in La Liga finely balanced.
Zinedine Zidane's side sit three points clear with a game in hand and are favourites to secure the league championship, their first since 2012.
Barca, the holders, will be looking to win, and must avoid defeat, in order to retain any realistic hopes of defending their title.
Stay with us for team news, build-up and more...
What time does it start?
The match will kick off at 7.45pm BST.
Team news
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; S. Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Alcacer.
The scene outside the Bernabeu, where our man Ed Malyon is in situ.
The big Real Madrid team news is that Gareth Bale returns.
Isco, predictably, is the one to make way.
Without Neymar, Paco Alcacer starts up top for the visitors.
So it's SAM rather than MSN on this occasion...
In 'honourary kick-off' news, this year's Masters champion Sergio Garcia will be taking an 'honourary kick-off' before the start of tonight's game.
I assume that does not mean he will actually be on the pitch once the match starts.
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