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
18 min: Two half chances in the space of 20 seconds, one at each end.
First, Benzema fails to strike the ball cleanly after getting a sight of goal, then Suarez misfires from a swift counter after Alcacer's deft run and layoff.
20 min: Ouch. Messi's bleeding for the second time in a week and this time, he may need a trip to the dentist.
He's caught by Marcelo's elbow and starts literally spitting bloof. Was it intentional? I'd err on the side of caution and say no.
22 min: Ronaldo forces the best save of the game so far out of Ter Stegen, cutting in from the wing forcing the 'keeper down to his left.
Messi's back on the pitch with a tissue in his mouth. Still spitting blood.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 0 (Casemiro)
You're unlikely to see a scrappier clasico goal, but a goal it is. Corner on the right is cleared only as far as Marcelo, who lofts a ball into the area.
Ramos meets it at the far post and knocks it against the upright. The ball breaks across the face of goal where Casemiro is on hand to tap in.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 1 (Messi)
Fabulous goal. The little wizard drifts into Madrid's box, weaves his way past some static defenders with a superb swerve of his hips then slots the ball past Navas. Brilliant.
499 Barcelona goals for Messi. A near perfect response.
35 min: Woof. Big hit from Modric and it forces an equally big save from Ter Stegen.
In other news, Bale, who's been quiet so far, is down clutching his leg. Back from injury tonight of course.
38 min: That's the end of Bale's night. He goes down the tunnel dejected, Marco Asensio replaces him.
39 min: Umtiti picks up the second yellow card of the night for a heavy tackle on Ronalod.
43 min: A clipped cross to the far post from Suarez finds Alba, but the full-back's effort drifts wide.
After a slow start to the half, Barcelona are just edging it now.
45+1 min: Casemiro's a lucky lad. Booked earlier for a feisty challenge, he puts another in on Messi that is arguably even more deserving of a caution.
Messi's waving his hand, he wants the card, but Casemiro will get away with this one.
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