Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: El Clasico result and reaction from La Liga tonight
Tonight’s Clasico sees Real Madrid host Barcelona in a pivotal match in the race for the title with Atletico Madrid still top
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid host Barcelona in a tantalising Clasico that will have a major impact on who lifts the title in La Liga this season.
Atletico Madrid are still out in front, but the gap is now one point to Lionel Messi’s side, with Los Blancos just two points further back.
Zinedine Zidane’s side enter the contest on a high after pulling off an emphatic victory over Liverpool to take control of their Champions League quarter-final.
One of the keys to the game will be Messi’s impact after six straight blanks in the Clasico since Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus, but Ronald Koeman is confident the Argentine can snap that streak to inspire the Blaugrana: “I hope that Messi can prove decisive because we need him to play at his best and for Barca to also show its best version. For our attack, our passing game, and to create scoring chances, we need Leo.”
While Karim Benzema, who has 18 La Liga goals, five less than Messi (23), believes Real’s pressing will be key to the game’s outcome: “When we press, we have to go all out. And when we have the ball, we have to develop good possessions, because they don’t like chasing the ball.”
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REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (75’)
It’s been a much stronger performance from the visitors in the second half but an equaliser still eludes them. Moriba meets a Messi cross but sends his header straight at Courtois.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (73’)
Real Madrid send on Marcelo, Isco and Mariano Diaz for Benzema, Vinicius and Kroos.
Barcelona make a change, too, replacing Araujo with Ilaix Moriba.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (71’)
Close! Messi drives throug the middle and finds Griezmann, who plays a first-time pass to Mingueza in space on the right. He drills the ball across the face of goal but sends it beyond the Barcelona players waiting in the middle.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (70’)
Chance! A cross is met by Vinicius at the back post and his header drops for Kroos, a few yards out. He tries a diving header but gets it wrong, failing to hit the target.
At the other end, Messi is picked out on the edge of the box and shoots off target, but he’s fouled by Nacho, who goes into the book. Again, the free kick is unusually poor from Messi, blocked by the wall.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (66’)
Vinicius is truly devastating on the break. Modric sends a pass over the top for the Brazilian, who races onto it. He tries to square for Benzema but Lenglet just about manages to take the ball away from the striker.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (65’)
Messi’s free kick is disappointing, slammed straight into the wall. This is a good spell for Barcelona, though.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (64’)
Casemiro fouls Griezmann, about 25 yards from Real Madrid’s goal. Messi range, perhaps...
Sergi Roberto has replaced Busquets.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (63’)
Close! Barcelona threaten down the left flank again. Alba gets to the byline and drills a low cross to the near post. Courtois gets an important touch to take it away from the waiting Barcelona players.
REAL MADRID 2-1 BARCELONA (62’)
Real Madrid have sent on Asensio in place of Valverde.
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