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As it happenedended

Barcelona beat Real Madrid to take step closer to La Liga title

Re-live the action from the Clasico in Madrid

Jack Watson
Saturday 02 March 2019 14:19 GMT
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Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde discusses Lionel Messi involvement in Real Madrid clash

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Ivan Rakitic's fine first-half goal proved enough to give Barcelona a hard-earned 1-0 win over rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu as the LaLiga leaders continued their El Clasico dominance.

Barcelona had completed a 3-0 victory in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday night and never looked like being stretched after Rakitic's clever chip broke the deadlock after 26 minutes.

Tempers almost boiled over at half-time when Lionel Messi looked to have been caught by a stray arm from Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos.

There were, though, few clear-cut chances for Real, who are now winless in their last six league games against their rivals.

Barcelona are now 12 points clear of Los Blancos and 10 ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who host Leganes on Sunday. Re-live the action below:

What time does it start?

Real Madrid vs Barcelona kicks off at 7:45pm (GMT) on Saturday 2nd March.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Premier Sports 1, with coverage starting from 7:15pm (GMT).

The match will also be streamed on Eleven Sports 1, with highlights uploaded to the Eleven Sports website after the game.

Predicted line-ups

Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Reguilon, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Vazquez, Vinicius Jr. Benzema

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Vidal, Rakitic, Dembele, Messi, Suarez

Form guide…

Real Madrid: DWWLWL

Barcelona: DDWDWW

Head-to-head…

Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 3 (Suarez 2, Varane OG), Copa del Rey, February 2019

Barcelona 1 (Malcom) Real Madrid 1 (Vazquez), Copa del Rey, February 2019

Barcelona 5 (Coutinho, Suarez 3, Vidal) Real Madrid 1 (Marcelo), La Liga, October 2018

Barcelona 2 (Suarez, Messi) Real Madrid 2 (Ronaldo, Bale), La Liga, May 2018

Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 3 (Suarez, Messi, Vidal), La Liga, December 2017

Odds…

Real Madrid to win: 17/10

Barcelona to win: 7/5

Draw: 13/5

Prediction…

Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

21: So, 'how has Vinicius started?' I hear you cry.

Well, he's looked lively. His pace is certainly something that Barcelona are concerned about and they are trying to get their challenges on him as quickly as possible, Pique with the latest robust tackle on the young winger. Ter Stegen's sweeping is also going to be pretty important here.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:07

22: Madrid go close!

Vinicius chips the ball over Pique's sliding tackle and is away on the left-wing. He sprints to the byline and cuts the ball back to Benzema, ignoring Bale in the middle. The ball makes its way to Modric on the edge of the area and his shot at goal is blocked by Pique to prevent it nestling in the bottom corner.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:09

GOAL!

Ivan Rakitic opens the scoring with a superb chip!

What a finish to open the scoring and it seemed to come from nothing. Rakitic is played through on the right side and chips neatly chips the ball over Courtois after charging into the penalty area. That's an effort a certain Messi would be proud of.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:11

29: Real Madrid respond by getting forward and winning a corner that comes to nothing.

Roguilon then goes down under Arthur's challenge after charging into the area and is ordered to get up by the referee. The Barcelona players appeal for a yellow card, saying he dived, but the referee leaves it with no action taken.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:15

Some finish 

 

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:18

36: Oh what a ball from Messi to get Dembele on his bike on the left-wing. Messi then sprints into the box but is just a couple of yards short of latching onto the French winger's low cross.

Real Madrid clear but the concede a foul on the edge of the box, Casemiro on Suarez, in a dangerous position.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:21

37: Messi takes and has Courtois scrambling across his goal but the effort is just too high.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:22

It was at this moment that Courtois knew he'd been beaten 

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:23

39: Wow, Real Madrid give Suarez so much time and space on the edge of the box to pick his spot. He goes with his left foot and forces Courtois into a good save low to his left. Messi tries to get something from the rebound, but the goalkeeper gets himself to his feet and smothers the ball to prevent any danger. Barcelona are beginning to grow in confidence.

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:26

40: Barcelona are given a free kick after one of my all-time favourite fouls. Messi skips away from Ramos after playing a pass to his right and the Real Madrid lifts his heel back to foul him as he tries to sprint pass. That was like a showboat foul and I'm certain we need to see more of them. The free kick from the right, by the way, came to nothing. 

Jack Watson2 March 2019 20:27

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