<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/postponed-el-clasico-to-be-played-on-december-18-spanish-football-federation-257705">Barcelona and Real Madrid</a> could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was overshadowed by violent clashes between Catalan independence protestors and police outside Camp Nou.

After being postponed in October, there were renewed fears of unrest around Spain's most famous fixture and while the match was only briefly interrupted by yellow beach balls were thrown onto the pitch, outside the stadium, chaos ensued.

Masked protesters had set bins on fire and thrown rocks and glass bottles at police, who responded by firing foam bullets.

Forty-six people were lightly injured in the clashes, including eight who needed to be taken to a medical centre for extra care, local emergency services said.&nbsp;

Five people were arrested, according to a police spokesman.

The protesters, many of them carrying <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fresh-protests-in-spain-over-catalan-sentence-256141">Catalan separatist </a>flags, began setting up barricades in the middle of the street which they then burned after police arrived in dozens of police vans.

Inside the stadium, the match passed largely undisturbed, save for a brief pause early in the second half as dozens of yellow beach balls had to be removed by stewards.

"There was tension in the game and I noticed when some yellow balls fell down," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.&nbsp;

"But nothing more. We tried to give a sense of normality."

"Everyone wanted to see a good football match," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. "In that sense, I think we can be happy."

The game was less eventful than expected, with neither Barcelona nor Real ever really at their best and both, perhaps in the end, happier not to win than to lose.&nbsp;

A goalless draw means <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-crash-to-defeat-at-levante-after-second-half-collapse-259630">Barcelona</a> stay top of La Liga, ahead of Real on goal difference while the historic score in league meetings between the two rivals remains 72 victories apiece.&nbsp;

"More than a Clasico", read the front page of Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday morning ahead of a fixture that while always politically charged, had assumed even greater significance than usual.&nbsp;

The game was originally due to be played on October 26 but was postponed due to violent protests breaking out across Catalonia, following the sentencing of nine independence leaders to prison.

In the 53 days since, expectations swelled around what Democratic Tsunami, the Catalan independence protest group, might do to disrupt the most-watched club football match in the world.&nbsp;

Bale 'goal' ruled out&nbsp;

But in truth, there was less than expected during the 90 minutes.&nbsp;

Early in the second half, yellow beachballs were thrown onto the field while blue banners bearing the slogan of Democratic Tsunami: 'Spain, sit and talk', were also held up.&nbsp;

Four hours before kick-off, thousands had gathered at all four corners of the stadium to hold the same blue banners and wave Catalan flags, while some blocked traffic too.&nbsp;

But the demonstrations were peaceful, in stark contrast to the ugly scenes that would come a few hours later.

Both teams had departed from the same hotel and aside from whistles and insults directed at the Madrid team bus, each arrived without incident. Club president Florentino Perez gave a thumbs-up as he walked in.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gareth-bale-has-never-asked-to-leave-real-madrid-says-agent-266604">Gareth Bale</a> was last to get off, by which time he might have known he was starting for the first time in four matches. Ramos played in his 43rd Clasico, a record for any player in history.&nbsp;

For Barcelona, Sergio Busquets was included in the line-up first announced before he was swapped out for Ivan Rakitic. Barca claimed it had been a communication error.&nbsp;

If it was, it was not the first mistake of the night, with a frantic first half full of them.&nbsp;

Real were the better side in the opening half an hour although Luis Suarez might have scored early had he controlled Jordi Alba's cross at the back post.&nbsp;

There was a goalline clearance at both ends as Casemiro's header bounced up and had to be hooked away by Gerard Pique before Thibaut Courtois punched out to Messi but his shot was blocked by Ramos.&nbsp;

Shortly after the interval, stewards ran on to collect the beach balls and then Barcelona twice should have scored, only for Lionel Messi and Suarez both to fluff finishes in quick succession.&nbsp;

Bale scored with 15 minutes left but his provider Ferland Mendy was a fraction offside. Neither team wanted to go for broke in the latter stages.&nbsp;

Barcelona and Real Madrid could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was overshadowed by violent clashes between Catalan independence protestors and police outside Camp Nou.

Barcelona and Real Madrid could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was overshadowed by violent clashes between Catalan independence protestors and police outside Camp Nou. After being postponed in October, there were renewed fears of unrest around Spain's most famous fixture and while the match was only briefly interrupted by yellow beach balls were thrown onto the pitch, outside the stadium, chaos ensued. Masked protesters had set bins on fire and thrown rocks and glass bottles at police, who responded by firing foam bullets. Forty-six people were lightly injured in the clashes, including eight who needed to be taken to a medical centre for extra care, local emergency services said. Five people were arrested, according to a police spokesman. The protesters, many of them carrying Catalan separatist flags, began setting up barricades in the middle of the street which they then burned after police arrived in dozens of police vans. Inside the stadium, the match passed largely undisturbed, save for a brief pause early in the second half as dozens of yellow beach balls had to be removed by stewards. "There was tension in the game and I noticed when some yellow balls fell down," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. "But nothing more. We tried to give a sense of normality." "Everyone wanted to see a good football match," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. "In that sense, I think we can be happy." The game was less eventful than expected, with neither Barcelona nor Real ever really at their best and both, perhaps in the end, happier not to win than to lose. A goalless draw means Barcelona stay top of La Liga, ahead of Real on goal difference while the historic score in league meetings between the two rivals remains 72 victories apiece. "More than a Clasico", read the front page of Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday morning ahead of a fixture that while always politically charged, had assumed even greater significance than usual. The game was originally due to be played on October 26 but was postponed due to violent protests breaking out across Catalonia, following the sentencing of nine independence leaders to prison. In the 53 days since, expectations swelled around what Democratic Tsunami, the Catalan independence protest group, might do to disrupt the most-watched club football match in the world. Bale 'goal' ruled out But in truth, there was less than expected during the 90 minutes. Early in the second half, yellow beachballs were thrown onto the field while blue banners bearing the slogan of Democratic Tsunami: 'Spain, sit and talk', were also held up. Four hours before kick-off, thousands had gathered at all four corners of the stadium to hold the same blue banners and wave Catalan flags, while some blocked traffic too. But the demonstrations were peaceful, in stark contrast to the ugly scenes that would come a few hours later. Both teams had departed from the same hotel and aside from whistles and insults directed at the Madrid team bus, each arrived without incident. Club president Florentino Perez gave a thumbs-up as he walked in. Gareth Bale was last to get off, by which time he might have known he was starting for the first time in four matches. Ramos played in his 43rd Clasico, a record for any player in history. For Barcelona, Sergio Busquets was included in the line-up first announced before he was swapped out for Ivan Rakitic. Barca claimed it had been a communication error. If it was, it was not the first mistake of the night, with a frantic first half full of them. Real were the better side in the opening half an hour although Luis Suarez might have scored early had he controlled Jordi Alba's cross at the back post. There was a goalline clearance at both ends as Casemiro's header bounced up and had to be hooked away by Gerard Pique before Thibaut Courtois punched out to Messi but his shot was blocked by Ramos. Shortly after the interval, stewards ran on to collect the beach balls and then Barcelona twice should have scored, only for Lionel Messi and Suarez both to fluff finishes in quick succession. Bale scored with 15 minutes left but his provider Ferland Mendy was a fraction offside. Neither team wanted to go for broke in the latter stages.

Barcelona, Real Madrid draw as Clasico marred by violence

The number of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/general-strike-grips-catalonia-freedom-marchers-hit-barcelona-256767">Catalans </a>who support regional independence fell to just under 42 per cent, a poll showed on Friday, carried out before Spain's top court jailed nine separatist leaders.&nbsp;

Conducted by the Catalan regional government's CEO survey institute, the figures showed 41.9 per cent were in favour of seceding from Spain, down from 44.0 per cent in July.&nbsp;

At the same time, the number of those who want the wealthy northeastern region to remain part of Spain rose slightly to 48.8 per cent from 48.3 per cent in the previous poll.&nbsp;

The figures were based on the responses of 1,315 residents questioned between September 16 and October 7 as tensions were rising ahead of the anticipated Supreme Court ruling.&nbsp;

On October 14, the court issued its explosive verdict, handing heavy jail terms to nine separatist leaders over an abortive 2017 independence bid, setting off a wave of angry protests that repeatedly descended into violence.&nbsp;

Catalonia's parliament and its regional government are dominated by separatist parties, but the region itself remains deeply divided over the matter, and the recent crisis has exacerbated the split.&nbsp;

The number of Catalans who support regional independence fell to just under 42 per cent, a poll showed on Friday, carried out before Spain's top court jailed nine separatist leaders.

The number of Catalans who support regional independence fell to just under 42 per cent, a poll showed on Friday, carried out before Spain's top court jailed nine separatist leaders. Conducted by the Catalan regional government's CEO survey institute, the figures showed 41.9 per cent were in favour of seceding from Spain, down from 44.0 per cent in July. At the same time, the number of those who want the wealthy northeastern region to remain part of Spain rose slightly to 48.8 per cent from 48.3 per cent in the previous poll. The figures were based on the responses of 1,315 residents questioned between September 16 and October 7 as tensions were rising ahead of the anticipated Supreme Court ruling. On October 14, the court issued its explosive verdict, handing heavy jail terms to nine separatist leaders over an abortive 2017 independence bid, setting off a wave of angry protests that repeatedly descended into violence. Catalonia's parliament and its regional government are dominated by separatist parties, but the region itself remains deeply divided over the matter, and the recent crisis has exacerbated the split.

New polls show decline in support for separate Catalonia

Dozens of protesters crowded into Barcelona's main railway station on Saturday in the latest show of dissent to grip the city more than a month after a Spanish court handed stiff prison sentences to nine Catalan separatist leaders.

Protesters poured into Barcelona's Sants station, some staging a sit-in while a handful scuffled with police, heeding a call by a separatist group known as CDR. The organisation had urged people to show up at nine railway stations across Barcelona in hopes of provoking what they described as a "total blockage" on social media.

Police said the protest was limited to one station and protesters were removed after about an hour, joining a wider crowd who had gathered outside the station, some waving separatist flags.

No arrests were made and transit services were not disrupted, authorities added.

The regional capital Barcelona has seen weeks of protests, at times erupting in violence, since Spain's supreme court sentenced nine of the region's leaders to up to 13 years in prison over their role in a failed 2017 bid for Catalan independence.

On Wednesday Spanish police cleared out protesters who had trapped about 500 vehicles while blocking a highway for more than 15 hours. A day earlier, French riot police used tear gas to force out protesters who spent more than 24 hours blocking the same highway where it straddles France and Spain.

The push for secession in the northeastern region, which loomed large over last Sunday's parliamentary election, was back in focus this week after the deeply fragmented electoral result handed separatist parties a chance to play a key role in unblocking the political stalemate in Madrid.

Dozens of protesters crowded into Barcelona's main railway station on Saturday in the latest show of dissent to grip the city more than a month after a Spanish court handed stiff prison sentences to nine Catalan separatist leaders.

Dozens of protesters crowded into Barcelona's main railway station on Saturday in the latest show of dissent to grip the city more than a month after a Spanish court handed stiff prison sentences to nine Catalan separatist leaders. Protesters poured into Barcelona's Sants station, some staging a sit-in while a handful scuffled with police, heeding a call by a separatist group known as CDR. The organisation had urged people to show up at nine railway stations across Barcelona in hopes of provoking what they described as a "total blockage" on social media. Police said the protest was limited to one station and protesters were removed after about an hour, joining a wider crowd who had gathered outside the station, some waving separatist flags. No arrests were made and transit services were not disrupted, authorities added. The regional capital Barcelona has seen weeks of protests, at times erupting in violence, since Spain's supreme court sentenced nine of the region's leaders to up to 13 years in prison over their role in a failed 2017 bid for Catalan independence. On Wednesday Spanish police cleared out protesters who had trapped about 500 vehicles while blocking a highway for more than 15 hours. A day earlier, French riot police used tear gas to force out protesters who spent more than 24 hours blocking the same highway where it straddles France and Spain. The push for secession in the northeastern region, which loomed large over last Sunday's parliamentary election, was back in focus this week after the deeply fragmented electoral result handed separatist parties a chance to play a key role in unblocking the political stalemate in Madrid.

Pro-independence protesters take to Barcelona's main train station

Heavy police presence in central Barcelona on Saturday (October 19) following the worst night of urban unrest in decades on Friday