There are players who are remembered for their goals, others for their teamwork, some for both. Here is a look at eight of the top assist providers of recent years in club football’s biggest match.

Precise build-up play is key to scoring goals. Look no further than matches like ElClasico, where fine margins can determine everything. With this in mind, here’s a list of the top assist providers in ElClasico since the 1998/99 season.

<h2>Lionel Messi</h2>

The Argentine star has provided the most assists in ElClásico this century (9). He’s also the top scorer in ElClasico history, with 26 goals. This season, specifically, he sits top of the assist ranking of both sides, together with Toni Kroos, with eight assists so far.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rashford-and-fernandes-ensure-united-brush-off-granada-376221" hreflang="en">Rashford and Fernandes ensure United brush off Granada</a>

<h2>Xavi</h2>

Xavi Hernández was the definition of precision when delivering the ball to his teammates. The former Barcelona midfielder is a true legend of LaLiga, playing 40 times in ElClasico. In those games he provided six assists, proving the difference on many occasions.

<h2>Sergi Roberto</h2>

Sergi Roberto is the perfect example of a multipurpose player. His versatility has allowed him to play in ElClásico de LaLiga both as a midfielder and as a right-back. The Barça youth squad has embraced the philosophy of&nbsp;La Masía&nbsp;of maintaining possession and being precise in passing to advance in attack. In ElClásico matches, Roberto sits third among the top assist providers with a total of five.

<h2>Karim Benzema</h2>

Real Madrid’s French striker, in addition to scoring goals, also knows how to link up and provide assists for teammates. Benzema ranks fourth in the assists rankings in LaLiga ElClasico fixtures in the past 23 years, providing four assists.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/last-gasp-slavia-leave-arsenals-europa-league-hopes-in-balance-376223" hreflang="en">Last-gasp Slavia leave Arsenal's Europa League hopes in balance</a>

<h2>Jordi Alba</h2>

The left flank is definitely an area that Barcelona will look to exploit come this weekend’s ElClasico. Left-back Jordi Alba is key to attacks from wide, and is of course among the fixture’s most prolific assist providers, with four. The Catalan has already provided four assists this season and is also key to the team’s passing game, having made 1821 passes this campaign, fourth most in the entire competition.&nbsp;

<h2>Roberto Carlos</h2>

Another left back, this time a legend for Real Madrid. Fans of&nbsp;Los Blancos&nbsp;fell in love with the Brazilian thanks to his exciting and tireless roaming down the flank in the 1990s and 2000s. His power, speed and attacking ability saw him provide four assists in LaLiga ElClasico fixtures during his career, in addition to a number of goals.

<h2>Dani Alves</h2>

Another Brazilian defender, this time a right-back, who left his mark on the history of ElClásico was Dani Alves. The Barça defender managed to make four assists against Real Madrid in LaLiga Santander.

<h2>Andres Iniesta</h2>

Like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta is a veritable legend of LaLiga. Iniesta enamoured fans the world over with his style and quality and playing in 38 ElClasico fixtures during his time at Barcelona. The former Barça midfielder and World Cup winner is one of the top assist providers of Real Madrid-FC Barcelona in LaLiga Santander over the last 23 years, with a total of three assists.

<h2>Where to watch ElClasico?</h2>

Watch ElClasico live on Sunday at 00.30 am IST on Facebook Watch.

There are players who are remembered for their goals, others for their teamwork, some for both. Here is a look at eight of the top assist providers of recent years in club football’s biggest match.

There are players who are remembered for their goals, others for their teamwork, some for both. Here is a look at eight of the top assist providers of recent years in club football’s biggest match. Precise build-up play is key to scoring goals. Look no further than matches like ElClasico, where fine margins can determine everything. With this in mind, here’s a list of the top assist providers in ElClasico since the 1998/99 season. Lionel Messi The Argentine star has provided the most assists in ElClásico this century (9). He’s also the top scorer in ElClasico history, with 26 goals. This season, specifically, he sits top of the assist ranking of both sides, together with Toni Kroos, with eight assists so far. ALSO READ: Rashford and Fernandes ensure United brush off Granada Xavi Xavi Hernández was the definition of precision when delivering the ball to his teammates. The former Barcelona midfielder is a true legend of LaLiga, playing 40 times in ElClasico. In those games he provided six assists, proving the difference on many occasions. Sergi Roberto Sergi Roberto is the perfect example of a multipurpose player. His versatility has allowed him to play in ElClásico de LaLiga both as a midfielder and as a right-back. The Barça youth squad has embraced the philosophy of La Masía of maintaining possession and being precise in passing to advance in attack. In ElClásico matches, Roberto sits third among the top assist providers with a total of five. Karim Benzema Real Madrid’s French striker, in addition to scoring goals, also knows how to link up and provide assists for teammates. Benzema ranks fourth in the assists rankings in LaLiga ElClasico fixtures in the past 23 years, providing four assists. ALSO READ: Last-gasp Slavia leave Arsenal's Europa League hopes in balance Jordi Alba The left flank is definitely an area that Barcelona will look to exploit come this weekend’s ElClasico. Left-back Jordi Alba is key to attacks from wide, and is of course among the fixture’s most prolific assist providers, with four. The Catalan has already provided four assists this season and is also key to the team’s passing game, having made 1821 passes this campaign, fourth most in the entire competition. Roberto Carlos Another left back, this time a legend for Real Madrid. Fans of Los Blancos fell in love with the Brazilian thanks to his exciting and tireless roaming down the flank in the 1990s and 2000s. His power, speed and attacking ability saw him provide four assists in LaLiga ElClasico fixtures during his career, in addition to a number of goals. Dani Alves Another Brazilian defender, this time a right-back, who left his mark on the history of ElClásico was Dani Alves. The Barça defender managed to make four assists against Real Madrid in LaLiga Santander. Andres Iniesta Like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta is a veritable legend of LaLiga. Iniesta enamoured fans the world over with his style and quality and playing in 38 ElClasico fixtures during his time at Barcelona. The former Barça midfielder and World Cup winner is one of the top assist providers of Real Madrid-FC Barcelona in LaLiga Santander over the last 23 years, with a total of three assists. Where to watch ElClasico? Watch ElClasico live on Sunday at 00.30 am IST on Facebook Watch.

LaLiga Special: The great assist providers of El Clasico

Real Madrid triumphed in the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski kept up his stunning form and Ajax recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Dutch top flight.

AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend's action across the continent:

<h2>- Real take Clasico honours -</h2>

Rarely in recent years have both Barcelona and Real Madrid come into a Clasico at such a low ebb, but it was Zinedine Zidane's team who emerged from their own mini-crisis with a fine 3-1 win at an empty Camp Nou.

Not for the first time in this fixture there was controversy, with the decision to award Real a crucial second-half penalty leaving Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman furious with the VAR.

Sergio Ramos's spot-kick put the visitors 2-1 up and Luka Modric went on to wrap up the win which saw Real bounce back from suffering consecutive defeats in the week leading up to the game.

They have now lost just once in eight trips to the Camp Nou and the result relieves the pressure on Zidane, while leaving Koeman under the cosh. That is two straight La Liga losses now for Barca, the first time that has happened since April 2016. They are 12th in the table.

<h2>- Another record for Lewandowski -</h2>

Robert Lewandowski's sensational start to this season continued as he bagged a hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 5-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Polish striker has 10 goals already and is the first to reach that mark after just five matches of a Bundesliga campaign.

It was a perfect hat-trick, with Lewandowski scoring one each with his left foot, right foot and head. At 32 he is in the form of his life, having scored 55 times in total last season as Bayern won the treble.

<h2>- Lucky 13: Ajax make history -</h2>

Those who thought record wins and double-figure scorelines belonged to the 1930s can think again. On Saturday Ajax set the all-time mark for the biggest victory in the Dutch Eredivisie as they crushed hapless VVV Venlo 13-0 away.

Lassina Traore struck five times as the Amsterdam club outdid Johan Cruyff's Ajax, whose 12-1 win over Vitesse Arnhem had stood as the top flight's record win since May 1972 -- the season they won the league title and the second of their four European Cups.

Traore, the 19-year-old from Burkina Faso, became the first Ajax player to score five in an Eredivisie game since Marco van Basten in 1985.

"We were hungry in the field. We wanted to score goals, and I'm fine with that," said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, whose team now go to Atalanta in the Champions League.

&nbsp;

<h2>- Stumbling Juventus -</h2>

Juventus have now drawn the last three Serie A games they have actually played, leaving aside the 3-0 win they were awarded when Napoli did not turn up for their recent match in Turin due to a coronavirus outbreak.

On Sunday Andrea Pirlo's team needed Dejan Kulusevski to come off the bench and salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Verona as the reigning champions again had to do without Cristiano Ronaldo following a positive Covid-19 test.

"We could have done better," admitted novice coach Pirlo, whose side may have their work cut out if they are to win a 10th straight Scudetto with a resurgent AC Milan joining the likes of Inter and Atalanta in hoping to knock the Old Lady off her perch.

Now Juve host Barcelona in the Champions League looking to build on the one victory they have enjoyed in recent weeks, away at Dynamo Kiev.

<h2>- Depay, Aouar star for Lyon -</h2>

They were supposed to leave Lyon before the transfer window closed but both saw moves away from the French club fall through.

Memphis Depay had hoped to join his former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona while Houssem Aouar might have left his boyhood club for Arsenal, but instead they remain with last season's Champions League semi-finalists, who are not in Europe at all in this campaign.

It hs been a slow start for OL but on Sunday they trounced Monaco 4-1 to go sixth in Ligue 1, with Depay opening the scoring and Aouar netting a penalty. Karl Toko Ekambi got their other two goals.

Real Madrid triumphed in the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski kept up his stunning form and Ajax recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Dutch top flight. AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend's action across the continent: - Real take Clasico honours - Rarely in recent years have both Barcelona and Real Madrid come into a Clasico at such a low ebb, but it was Zinedine Zidane's team who emerged from their own mini-crisis with a fine 3-1 win at an empty Camp Nou.

Real Madrid triumphed in the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski kept up his stunning form and Ajax recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Dutch top flight. AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend's action across the continent: - Real take Clasico honours - Rarely in recent years have both Barcelona and Real Madrid come into a Clasico at such a low ebb, but it was Zinedine Zidane's team who emerged from their own mini-crisis with a fine 3-1 win at an empty Camp Nou. Not for the first time in this fixture there was controversy, with the decision to award Real a crucial second-half penalty leaving Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman furious with the VAR. Sergio Ramos's spot-kick put the visitors 2-1 up and Luka Modric went on to wrap up the win which saw Real bounce back from suffering consecutive defeats in the week leading up to the game. They have now lost just once in eight trips to the Camp Nou and the result relieves the pressure on Zidane, while leaving Koeman under the cosh. That is two straight La Liga losses now for Barca, the first time that has happened since April 2016. They are 12th in the table. - Another record for Lewandowski - Robert Lewandowski's sensational start to this season continued as he bagged a hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 5-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. The Polish striker has 10 goals already and is the first to reach that mark after just five matches of a Bundesliga campaign. It was a perfect hat-trick, with Lewandowski scoring one each with his left foot, right foot and head. At 32 he is in the form of his life, having scored 55 times in total last season as Bayern won the treble. - Lucky 13: Ajax make history - Those who thought record wins and double-figure scorelines belonged to the 1930s can think again. On Saturday Ajax set the all-time mark for the biggest victory in the Dutch Eredivisie as they crushed hapless VVV Venlo 13-0 away. Lassina Traore struck five times as the Amsterdam club outdid Johan Cruyff's Ajax, whose 12-1 win over Vitesse Arnhem had stood as the top flight's record win since May 1972 -- the season they won the league title and the second of their four European Cups. Traore, the 19-year-old from Burkina Faso, became the first Ajax player to score five in an Eredivisie game since Marco van Basten in 1985. "We were hungry in the field. We wanted to score goals, and I'm fine with that," said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, whose team now go to Atalanta in the Champions League. - Stumbling Juventus - Juventus have now drawn the last three Serie A games they have actually played, leaving aside the 3-0 win they were awarded when Napoli did not turn up for their recent match in Turin due to a coronavirus outbreak. On Sunday Andrea Pirlo's team needed Dejan Kulusevski to come off the bench and salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Verona as the reigning champions again had to do without Cristiano Ronaldo following a positive Covid-19 test. "We could have done better," admitted novice coach Pirlo, whose side may have their work cut out if they are to win a 10th straight Scudetto with a resurgent AC Milan joining the likes of Inter and Atalanta in hoping to knock the Old Lady off her perch. Now Juve host Barcelona in the Champions League looking to build on the one victory they have enjoyed in recent weeks, away at Dynamo Kiev. - Depay, Aouar star for Lyon - They were supposed to leave Lyon before the transfer window closed but both saw moves away from the French club fall through. Memphis Depay had hoped to join his former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona while Houssem Aouar might have left his boyhood club for Arsenal, but instead they remain with last season's Champions League semi-finalists, who are not in Europe at all in this campaign. It hs been a slow start for OL but on Sunday they trounced Monaco 4-1 to go sixth in Ligue 1, with Depay opening the scoring and Aouar netting a penalty. Karl Toko Ekambi got their other two goals.

Madrid's Clasico, Lewandowski, record-breaking Ajax: European football talking points

Barca's shocking defeat in El Clasico to Ruhr clash: Results of weekend matches!

From Clasico to Ruhr clash: Matches to look out for in Europe this weekend

El Clasico, the most-watched club game in world football, is back, with FC Barcelona set to host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Saturday&nbsp;at 7:30 pm. An unpredictable, live-action drama shown all over the world by over 100 LaLiga partners and now into its 90th&nbsp;season – a feat unprecedented in the entertainment world. The LaLiga El Clasico saga has gifted us a stream of incredible storylines over the years, including the greatness of legends such as Johan Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stefano and more recently Ronaldinho, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi, unforgettable moments of both showmanship and sportsmanship, and technological and broadcast landmarks.

<h2>The first El Clasico of the COVID-19 era</h2>

Enjoying El Clasico, or LaLiga football in general, seemed unlikely just months ago, with the world in lockdown in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But LaLiga’s comprehensive #BackToWin strategy – which laid out an extensive multi-phase plan to restart the season with regular COVID-19 testing covering personal behaviour away from training facilities, in homes and daily lives – ensured not only that the 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season could be completed in the space of just 39 days without a single positive case but also that the 2020/21 season started on time in early September.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-rolls-out-red-carpet-in-new-delhi-and-multiple-cities-around-the-world-to-celebrate-el-clasico-336891" hreflang="en">La Liga rolls out red carpet in New Delhi and multiple cities around the world to celebrate El Clasico</a>

<h2>Over 100 ElClasico-themed actions organised all over the world</h2>

Though governmental health restrictions mean fans won’t be in the Camp Nou stands for this first-ever El Clasico behind closed doors, LaLiga has ensured that fans around the world will still be able to come together for the greatest show in club football.

Over 100 ElClasico-themed actions are being organised across the world, among them a public viewing for up to 700 fans in Shanghai, watch parties in Vietnam, Dubai, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and other locations across the African continent. Over in Latin America, meanwhile, fans will be able to enjoy the action from the comfort of their own cars in a series of drive-in cinema locations across Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. LaLiga will also celebrate the ‘premiere’ of its flagship show by lining red carpets at well-known landmarks in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, Senegal, Colombia and Tajikistan to remind fans that El Clasico offers entertainment like no other.

<h2>An unrivalled broadcast and digital experience</h2>

No matter their location in the world, a potential audience of 650 million fans will be able to watch El Clasico like never before. New match broadcast graphics and statistics powered by cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality now provide fans with a more complete viewing experience than ever before, and pioneering virtualised crowd and audio technology complements the on-field action while fans are yet to return to LaLiga stadiums. With 14 LaLiga Santander stadiums kitted out with aerial cameras and aerial drones now capturing new and exclusive angles, the action never looked so good on a screen. El Clasico will be shown live in India on Facebook for free.

LaLiga’s 22 international social media channels publishing exciting content in the week leading up the match as well live streaming the all-important pre-match buildup in the two hours before kick-off to over 120 million followers around the world. A special online Fan Zone will be created giving fans a chance to win replica shirts of their favourite clubs, while a brand new mobile game, Score Words LaLiga, will be launched in line with the match offering fun challenges and online gameplay. In short, fans’ second screens will also be as busy and engaging as ever.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-sets-record-by-scoring-in-16th-straight-champions-league-season-336807" hreflang="en">Lionel Messi sets record by scoring in 16th straight Champions League season</a>

<h2>The stars of El Clasico</h2>

As always, the greatest stars in world football will be on show for the millions of viewers around the globe. Superstars such as all-time ElClasico top scorer and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and Ramos, the man with the most ElClasico appearances in history, are back this season, as are established international stars like Luka Modric, Gerard Pique, Karim Benzema, Frenkie de Jong and Thibaut Courtois.

A key talking point of ElClasico Season 90 will also be the plethora of exciting new faces on show. Dutch coach and former Barça legend Ronald Koeman returned to the Camp Nou this summer charged with leading an ambitious wholescale rebuilding project and has made some of the most talked-about moves in this summer’s European transfer market, welcoming the likes of Sergiño Dest – the first American to ever represent Barcelona in LaLiga – Trincao and Miralem Pjanic to the Catalan capital. On the other side of the El Clasico divide, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane – like Koeman, one of the most iconic players in his club’s history and in the ElClasico story – leads a mostly unchanged squad to that which steamrolled its way to the LaLiga Santander title after the break forced by COVID-19 last season.

Add in the fact that this season’s ElClasico boasts some of the most exciting young talents in world football under the age of 21, among them teenage prodigy Ansu Fati – Barcelona’s youngest-ever goalscorer – the aforementioned Dest, and at Real Madrid Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard and Vinicius Jr, and this ElClasico is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling and intriguing clashes between the two sides in recent memory.

Everything is in place for the return of ElClasico, the best footballers in the world and the best fan experience possible.

El Clasico, the most-watched club game in world football, is back, with FC Barcelona set to host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Saturday at 7:30 pm. An unpredictable, live-action drama shown all over the world by over 100 LaLiga partners and now into its 90th season – a feat unprecedented in the entertainment world.

El Clasico, the most-watched club game in world football, is back, with FC Barcelona set to host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Saturday at 7:30 pm. An unpredictable, live-action drama shown all over the world by over 100 LaLiga partners and now into its 90th season – a feat unprecedented in the entertainment world. The LaLiga El Clasico saga has gifted us a stream of incredible storylines over the years, including the greatness of legends such as Johan Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stefano and more recently Ronaldinho, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi, unforgettable moments of both showmanship and sportsmanship, and technological and broadcast landmarks. The first El Clasico of the COVID-19 era Enjoying El Clasico, or LaLiga football in general, seemed unlikely just months ago, with the world in lockdown in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But LaLiga’s comprehensive #BackToWin strategy – which laid out an extensive multi-phase plan to restart the season with regular COVID-19 testing covering personal behaviour away from training facilities, in homes and daily lives – ensured not only that the 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season could be completed in the space of just 39 days without a single positive case but also that the 2020/21 season started on time in early September. ALSO READ: La Liga rolls out red carpet in New Delhi and multiple cities around the world to celebrate El Clasico Over 100 ElClasico-themed actions organised all over the world Though governmental health restrictions mean fans won’t be in the Camp Nou stands for this first-ever El Clasico behind closed doors, LaLiga has ensured that fans around the world will still be able to come together for the greatest show in club football. Over 100 ElClasico-themed actions are being organised across the world, among them a public viewing for up to 700 fans in Shanghai, watch parties in Vietnam, Dubai, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and other locations across the African continent. Over in Latin America, meanwhile, fans will be able to enjoy the action from the comfort of their own cars in a series of drive-in cinema locations across Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. LaLiga will also celebrate the ‘premiere’ of its flagship show by lining red carpets at well-known landmarks in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, Senegal, Colombia and Tajikistan to remind fans that El Clasico offers entertainment like no other. An unrivalled broadcast and digital experience No matter their location in the world, a potential audience of 650 million fans will be able to watch El Clasico like never before. New match broadcast graphics and statistics powered by cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality now provide fans with a more complete viewing experience than ever before, and pioneering virtualised crowd and audio technology complements the on-field action while fans are yet to return to LaLiga stadiums. With 14 LaLiga Santander stadiums kitted out with aerial cameras and aerial drones now capturing new and exclusive angles, the action never looked so good on a screen. El Clasico will be shown live in India on Facebook for free. LaLiga’s 22 international social media channels publishing exciting content in the week leading up the match as well live streaming the all-important pre-match buildup in the two hours before kick-off to over 120 million followers around the world. A special online Fan Zone will be created giving fans a chance to win replica shirts of their favourite clubs, while a brand new mobile game, Score Words LaLiga, will be launched in line with the match offering fun challenges and online gameplay. In short, fans’ second screens will also be as busy and engaging as ever. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi sets record by scoring in 16th straight Champions League season The stars of El Clasico As always, the greatest stars in world football will be on show for the millions of viewers around the globe. Superstars such as all-time ElClasico top scorer and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and Ramos, the man with the most ElClasico appearances in history, are back this season, as are established international stars like Luka Modric, Gerard Pique, Karim Benzema, Frenkie de Jong and Thibaut Courtois. A key talking point of ElClasico Season 90 will also be the plethora of exciting new faces on show. Dutch coach and former Barça legend Ronald Koeman returned to the Camp Nou this summer charged with leading an ambitious wholescale rebuilding project and has made some of the most talked-about moves in this summer’s European transfer market, welcoming the likes of Sergiño Dest – the first American to ever represent Barcelona in LaLiga – Trincao and Miralem Pjanic to the Catalan capital. On the other side of the El Clasico divide, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane – like Koeman, one of the most iconic players in his club’s history and in the ElClasico story – leads a mostly unchanged squad to that which steamrolled its way to the LaLiga Santander title after the break forced by COVID-19 last season. Add in the fact that this season’s ElClasico boasts some of the most exciting young talents in world football under the age of 21, among them teenage prodigy Ansu Fati – Barcelona’s youngest-ever goalscorer – the aforementioned Dest, and at Real Madrid Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard and Vinicius Jr, and this ElClasico is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling and intriguing clashes between the two sides in recent memory. Everything is in place for the return of ElClasico, the best footballers in the world and the best fan experience possible.

La Liga braces itself for the first El Clasico of the COVID-19 era

To welcome the most anticipated global premier of the year – El Clasico, LaLiga has rolled out the red carpet for El Clasico in seven iconic locations around the world including the Red Fort in New Delhi to celebrate the biggest match in world football, FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Saturday 24th October at 7.30pm IST.

India was chosen, for its heritage site, and globally recognised locations. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid clash for the 181st time in LaLiga this weekend and the special LaLiga ‘Red Carpet’ installations symbolise the invitation to the world to watch ElClásico, with the message of LaLiga invites you to the gala premier of the season.’

<img alt="El Clasico" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b12a3599-5470-4bb3-84f1-829cbb3e2e65" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Red%20Fort%20New%20Delhi%202.jpg" />

El Clasico is known as the fiercest rivalry in world football and LaLiga’s installation highlights the passion and intensity of this fixture, embodied within their message #YouHaveToLiveIt (in Spanish: #HayQueVivirla). The seven Red Carpet locations were carefully selected for both their prestige and entertainment, two characteristics synonymous with both ElClásico and the two clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-sets-record-by-scoring-in-16th-straight-champions-league-season-336807" hreflang="en">Lionel Messi sets record by scoring in 16th straight Champions League season</a>

The iconic locations of the striking ElClasico Red Carpet include seven cities across six continents: Sydney Opera House - Sydney (Australia), Red Fort - Delhi (India), Navrus Palace - Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Tower Bridge - London (United Kingdom), Place du Souvenir Africain - Dakar (Senegal), The Vessel at Hudson Yards - New York City (United States of America) and Torre del Reloj - Cartagena des Indias (Colombia).

<img alt="El Clasico" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5cd50795-7c73-4db6-a4b7-829bc763d128" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Red%20Fort%20New%20Delhi.jpg" />

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpools-van-dijk-needs-surgery-a-cruel-twist-in-a-tough-year-336409" hreflang="en">Liverpool’s Van Dijk needs surgery, a cruel twist in a tough year</a>

Jose Antonio Cachaza, Managing Director, LaLiga India said, “El Clasico is the biggest rivalry not only in LaLiga but the world, with aggressive competitiveness between the clubs and of course adding to that great history. We are delighted to place the red carpet at a historic place like the Red Fort in India which will bring to life the excitement, the entertainment, the glamour and the global reach of this fixture and LaLiga. Barcelona vs Real Madrid is always an incredible show, and with the world watching we’re sure this edition will be no different.”

To welcome the most anticipated global premier of the year – El Clasico, LaLiga has rolled out the red carpet for El Clasico in seven iconic locations around the world including the Red Fort in New Delhi to celebrate the biggest match in world football, FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Saturday 24th October at 7.

To welcome the most anticipated global premier of the year – El Clasico, LaLiga has rolled out the red carpet for El Clasico in seven iconic locations around the world including the Red Fort in New Delhi to celebrate the biggest match in world football, FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Saturday 24th October at 7.30pm IST. India was chosen, for its heritage site, and globally recognised locations. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid clash for the 181st time in LaLiga this weekend and the special LaLiga ‘Red Carpet’ installations symbolise the invitation to the world to watch ElClásico, with the message of LaLiga invites you to the gala premier of the season.’ El Clasico is known as the fiercest rivalry in world football and LaLiga’s installation highlights the passion and intensity of this fixture, embodied within their message #YouHaveToLiveIt (in Spanish: #HayQueVivirla). The seven Red Carpet locations were carefully selected for both their prestige and entertainment, two characteristics synonymous with both ElClásico and the two clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi sets record by scoring in 16th straight Champions League season The iconic locations of the striking ElClasico Red Carpet include seven cities across six continents: Sydney Opera House - Sydney (Australia), Red Fort - Delhi (India), Navrus Palace - Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Tower Bridge - London (United Kingdom), Place du Souvenir Africain - Dakar (Senegal), The Vessel at Hudson Yards - New York City (United States of America) and Torre del Reloj - Cartagena des Indias (Colombia). ALSO READ: Liverpool’s Van Dijk needs surgery, a cruel twist in a tough year Jose Antonio Cachaza, Managing Director, LaLiga India said, “El Clasico is the biggest rivalry not only in LaLiga but the world, with aggressive competitiveness between the clubs and of course adding to that great history. We are delighted to place the red carpet at a historic place like the Red Fort in India which will bring to life the excitement, the entertainment, the glamour and the global reach of this fixture and LaLiga. Barcelona vs Real Madrid is always an incredible show, and with the world watching we’re sure this edition will be no different.”

La Liga rolls out red carpet in New Delhi and multiple cities around the world to celebrate El Clasico

Real Madrid and Barcelona will each head into the Clasico next weekend on the back of a defeat after La Liga's two title favourites were punished for slack performances on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane made four substitutions at half-time but could not spark a lethargic Madrid into life as his team fell 1-0 at home to newly-promoted Cadiz.&nbsp;

Then two hours later on the opposite side of the city, Ronald Koeman tasted his first competitive loss as coach of Barcelona as they followed Madrid's example by being beaten 1-0 by Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Madrid's was perhaps the more concerning display, the reigning champions managing just two shots on target against Cadiz, who could have scored more after Anthony Lozano's early strike.&nbsp;

But Barca were not much better, with Lionel Messi strangely quiet and the team failing to rebound after Jaime Mata's penalty gave Getafe the lead in the second half.

For Madrid, there was an injury concern too as Sergio Ramos spent the second half in the stands with ice strapped around his left knee.&nbsp;

Madrid said the injury was not serious but it puts in doubt Ramos' involvement in their first Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, as well the Clasico three days later.&nbsp;

"Hopefully it's minor, said Zidane. "Tomorrow we'll see what he has done."

A prolonged absence for Ramos would cap a deflating night for the champions, whose dreary display certainly hands an early boost to their title rivals.&nbsp;

Even if Barcelona were unable to capitalise, Atletico Madrid had earlier beaten Celta Vigo 2-0, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring at Balaidos.

&nbsp;

<h2>- 'No excuses' -</h2>

"There is no explanation," said Zidane. "If they scored two or three goals in the first half, we couldn't have complained. There are no excuses."

This is Cadiz's first season in the top flight in 14 years and their first victory over Real Madrid in 29. Their reward is second place in the table, denied top spot by their opponents only due to goal difference.&nbsp;

Isco, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez were the other three players to be hauled off by Zidane, who was reacting to a particularly poor display from his side in the first half.&nbsp;

Eder Militao, Casemiro, Fede Valverde and Marco Asensio came on while a surprised-looking Toni Kroos also departed in the second period, replaced by Luka Jovic.&nbsp;

But Cadiz could have been three up in the first quarter of an hour as Ramos prevented Alvaro Negredo's finish from rolling in before Negredo created the opener.&nbsp;

His cushioned header put through Lozano, who skipped beyond Madrid's sleepy defence and poked over the onrushing Thibaut Courtois.&nbsp;

Madrid might have equalised in the second half as Vinicius Junior headed wide of an open goal and Karim Benzema rattled the crossbar with a long-range shot. But Cadiz were not overly troubled.&nbsp;

Getafe were never really hanging on either, even if Barcelona went close to an equaliser, Messi hitting the post and then driving a loose ball wide in injury-time. Antoine Griezmann also ballooned over when put through in the first half.&nbsp;

Getafe's Cucho Hernandez also hit the bar after a clumsy challenge from Frenkie de Jong on Djene Dakonham gave Mata his chance.

Earlier, Suarez partnered Diego Costa for the first time and scored as Atletico Madrid beat struggling Celta Vigo.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>- 'Like the mix' -</h2>

But the Suarez-Costa combination came to an early end as Costa was forced off injured in the second half.&nbsp;

"I liked the mix of the two," said Diego Simeone. "Their characteristics mean they can play together. They give us strength and presence and personality in the penalty area.&nbsp;It's one of the options the team has."

Sitting in the stands, Costa was seen with his face in his hands and he seems likely now to miss Atletico's Champions League opener at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Suarez had earlier finished off a sweeping move down the left before Yannick Carrasco made sure of the victory in injury-time, heading in after Joao Felix's effort came back off the crossbar.

There was also a debut for Lucas Torreira, the Uruguayan signed on loan from Arsenal, who was energetic and tidy in central midfield, despite feeling some cramp late on.

Atletico climb to fourth, two points behind Real Madrid and one ahead of Barcelona. Celta, meanwhile, have managed only one win from their first six games and sit 13th.&nbsp;

Real Madrid and Barcelona will each head into the Clasico next weekend on the back of a defeat after La Liga's two title favourites were punished for slack performances on Saturday.

Real Madrid and Barcelona will each head into the Clasico next weekend on the back of a defeat after La Liga's two title favourites were punished for slack performances on Saturday. Zinedine Zidane made four substitutions at half-time but could not spark a lethargic Madrid into life as his team fell 1-0 at home to newly-promoted Cadiz. Then two hours later on the opposite side of the city, Ronald Koeman tasted his first competitive loss as coach of Barcelona as they followed Madrid's example by being beaten 1-0 by Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Madrid's was perhaps the more concerning display, the reigning champions managing just two shots on target against Cadiz, who could have scored more after Anthony Lozano's early strike. But Barca were not much better, with Lionel Messi strangely quiet and the team failing to rebound after Jaime Mata's penalty gave Getafe the lead in the second half. For Madrid, there was an injury concern too as Sergio Ramos spent the second half in the stands with ice strapped around his left knee. Madrid said the injury was not serious but it puts in doubt Ramos' involvement in their first Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, as well the Clasico three days later. "Hopefully it's minor, said Zidane. "Tomorrow we'll see what he has done." A prolonged absence for Ramos would cap a deflating night for the champions, whose dreary display certainly hands an early boost to their title rivals. Even if Barcelona were unable to capitalise, Atletico Madrid had earlier beaten Celta Vigo 2-0, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring at Balaidos. - 'No excuses' - "There is no explanation," said Zidane. "If they scored two or three goals in the first half, we couldn't have complained. There are no excuses." This is Cadiz's first season in the top flight in 14 years and their first victory over Real Madrid in 29. Their reward is second place in the table, denied top spot by their opponents only due to goal difference. Isco, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez were the other three players to be hauled off by Zidane, who was reacting to a particularly poor display from his side in the first half. Eder Militao, Casemiro, Fede Valverde and Marco Asensio came on while a surprised-looking Toni Kroos also departed in the second period, replaced by Luka Jovic. But Cadiz could have been three up in the first quarter of an hour as Ramos prevented Alvaro Negredo's finish from rolling in before Negredo created the opener. His cushioned header put through Lozano, who skipped beyond Madrid's sleepy defence and poked over the onrushing Thibaut Courtois. Madrid might have equalised in the second half as Vinicius Junior headed wide of an open goal and Karim Benzema rattled the crossbar with a long-range shot. But Cadiz were not overly troubled. Getafe were never really hanging on either, even if Barcelona went close to an equaliser, Messi hitting the post and then driving a loose ball wide in injury-time. Antoine Griezmann also ballooned over when put through in the first half. Getafe's Cucho Hernandez also hit the bar after a clumsy challenge from Frenkie de Jong on Djene Dakonham gave Mata his chance. Earlier, Suarez partnered Diego Costa for the first time and scored as Atletico Madrid beat struggling Celta Vigo. - 'Like the mix' - But the Suarez-Costa combination came to an early end as Costa was forced off injured in the second half. "I liked the mix of the two," said Diego Simeone. "Their characteristics mean they can play together. They give us strength and presence and personality in the penalty area. It's one of the options the team has." Sitting in the stands, Costa was seen with his face in his hands and he seems likely now to miss Atletico's Champions League opener at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Suarez had earlier finished off a sweeping move down the left before Yannick Carrasco made sure of the victory in injury-time, heading in after Joao Felix's effort came back off the crossbar. There was also a debut for Lucas Torreira, the Uruguayan signed on loan from Arsenal, who was energetic and tidy in central midfield, despite feeling some cramp late on. Atletico climb to fourth, two points behind Real Madrid and one ahead of Barcelona. Celta, meanwhile, have managed only one win from their first six games and sit 13th.

Barcelona, Real Madrid both lose ahead of Clasico

The organisers of Spanish football league La Liga have announced the schedule for the 2020-21 season as the defending champions Real Madrid will witness a delayed start to their title defence.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-misses-first-pre-season-training-session-as-barcelona-stand-off-continues-324446" hreflang="en">Messi misses first pre-season training session as Barcelona stand-off continues</a>

According to Goal.com, Madrid will commence their campaign late as teams that participated in Champions League will sit out the opening week.&nbsp;

The fans will witness the first El Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona on October 35 at the Camp Nou and the return leg of this fixture will then be held in April 2021, with the Catalan giants visiting the Santiago Bernabeu.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-difficult-jorge-gives-lionel-messi-verdict-ahead-of-talks-with-barcelonas-bartomeu-324715" hreflang="en">WATCH: 'Difficult...' - Jorge gives Lionel Messi verdict ahead of talks with Barcelona's Bartomeu</a>

Madrid's match with Getafe, Barcelona's clash against Elche, and Atletico Madrid's meeting with Sevilla will be postponed while the rest of the league will Kickoff on September 11 and 12. The defending champions will play their first match of the 2020-21 La Liga season against Real Sociedad, whereas, their arch-rivals Barcelona will begin their league campaign against &nbsp;Villarreal.

The Madrid derby between Real and Atletico will take place on December 12 at the Santiago Bernabeu with a return leg to be held on March 7 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The season will conclude on May 23, 2021, and on the final matchday, Real Madrid will take on Villarreal while Barcelona will lock horns with SD Eibar.

The organisers of Spanish football league La Liga have announced the schedule for the 2020-21 season as the defending champions Real Madrid will witness a delayed start to their title defence.

The organisers of Spanish football league La Liga have announced the schedule for the 2020-21 season as the defending champions Real Madrid will witness a delayed start to their title defence. Also read: Messi misses first pre-season training session as Barcelona stand-off continues According to Goal.com, Madrid will commence their campaign late as teams that participated in Champions League will sit out the opening week. The fans will witness the first El Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona on October 35 at the Camp Nou and the return leg of this fixture will then be held in April 2021, with the Catalan giants visiting the Santiago Bernabeu. Also read: WATCH: 'Difficult...' - Jorge gives Lionel Messi verdict ahead of talks with Barcelona's Bartomeu Madrid's match with Getafe, Barcelona's clash against Elche, and Atletico Madrid's meeting with Sevilla will be postponed while the rest of the league will Kickoff on September 11 and 12. The defending champions will play their first match of the 2020-21 La Liga season against Real Sociedad, whereas, their arch-rivals Barcelona will begin their league campaign against Villarreal. The Madrid derby between Real and Atletico will take place on December 12 at the Santiago Bernabeu with a return leg to be held on March 7 at the Wanda Metropolitano. The season will conclude on May 23, 2021, and on the final matchday, Real Madrid will take on Villarreal while Barcelona will lock horns with SD Eibar.

From El Clasicos to Madrid Derbies: La Liga schedule announced!

Barcelona and Real Madrid resume one of the tightest title races in recent memory when La Liga kicks back into action this week in empty stadiums, after a three-month pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Just before the season was postponed on March 10, former Real great Jorge Valdano had likened the two teams’ inconsistent form to a race between two limping men, but both sides are set to be refreshed and stronger after the long break.

Barca are boosted by the return of Luis Suarez from a knee injury that looked set to rule him out for the season, and his aggression and power should help them ease their problems in breaking down sides.

Real will again enjoy the services of Eden Hazard after he was sidelined with a fractured ankle in February. Also back is Spain forward Marcos Asensio, who should ease the burden on Karim Benzema, their runaway leading scorer with 14 strikes.

Barca, targeting a third consecutive Spanish title, led Real by two points when the season was postponed.

The break has also given their ageing squad some much-needed rest, while the extra time on the training ground should help them further adapt to the ideas of coach Quique Setien, who succeeded Ernesto Valverde in January.

With no fans allowed into venues and Real playing their home games at the 6,000-capacity Alfredo Di Stefano stadium while the Santiago Bernabeu is being refurbished, it will be a title race unlike any other.

“We will miss that boost and support you get from the crowd, who have a huge influence,” said Setien.

Barca have a slightly more comfortable run-in in their remaining 11 fixtures in the space of five weeks, with home games against Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid plus trips to Sevilla and Villarreal looking like their toughest games.

Real, who beat Barca in March only to blow their lead at the top by losing to Real Betis, have five potentially tricky fixtures: Valencia, Getafe and Villarreal at home, plus trips to Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona and Real Madrid resume one of the tightest title races in recent memory when La Liga kicks back into action this week in empty stadiums, after a three-month pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Barcelona and Real Madrid resume one of the tightest title races in recent memory when La Liga kicks back into action this week in empty stadiums, after a three-month pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. Just before the season was postponed on March 10, former Real great Jorge Valdano had likened the two teams’ inconsistent form to a race between two limping men, but both sides are set to be refreshed and stronger after the long break. Barca are boosted by the return of Luis Suarez from a knee injury that looked set to rule him out for the season, and his aggression and power should help them ease their problems in breaking down sides. Real will again enjoy the services of Eden Hazard after he was sidelined with a fractured ankle in February. Also back is Spain forward Marcos Asensio, who should ease the burden on Karim Benzema, their runaway leading scorer with 14 strikes. Barca, targeting a third consecutive Spanish title, led Real by two points when the season was postponed. The break has also given their ageing squad some much-needed rest, while the extra time on the training ground should help them further adapt to the ideas of coach Quique Setien, who succeeded Ernesto Valverde in January. With no fans allowed into venues and Real playing their home games at the 6,000-capacity Alfredo Di Stefano stadium while the Santiago Bernabeu is being refurbished, it will be a title race unlike any other. “We will miss that boost and support you get from the crowd, who have a huge influence,” said Setien. Barca have a slightly more comfortable run-in in their remaining 11 fixtures in the space of five weeks, with home games against Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid plus trips to Sevilla and Villarreal looking like their toughest games. Real, who beat Barca in March only to blow their lead at the top by losing to Real Betis, have five potentially tricky fixtures: Valencia, Getafe and Villarreal at home, plus trips to Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona and Real Madrid renew close-run title race

Real Madrid topples Barcelona to become the leaders of the La Liga after beating the Catalan Giants 2-0 in an El Clasico clash on Sunday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-10-men-barcelona-see-their-way-out-against-napoli-282793">Champions League: 10-men Barcelona see their way out against Napoli</a>

This was Zinedine Zidane's first home victory against Barcelona in La Liga. Real Madrid's stunning second-half display secured them a win.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-guardiolas-masterclass-ensures-man-city-comeback-against-real-madrid-282976">Champions League: Guardiola's masterclass ensures Man City comeback against Real Madrid</a>

Vinicius Junior struck first for Real Madrid in the 71st minute. At the age of 19 years and 233 days Vinicius became the youngest player in the 21st century to score in an El Clasico. The previous record was held by Lionel Messi who in March 2007 who scored at the age of 19 years and 259 days.

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🏁 FP: <a href="https://twitter.com/realmadrid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealMadrid</a> 2-0 <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona_es?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona_es</a> 
⚽ <a href="https://twitter.com/viniciusjr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@viniciusjr</a> 71', <a href="https://twitter.com/marianodiaz7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marianodiaz7</a> 90'+2'<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RealFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RealFootball</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Emirates?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Emirates</a> <a href="https://t.co/GzaRQDC0eo">pic.twitter.com/GzaRQDC0eo</a>
— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) <a href="https://twitter.com/realmadrid/status/1234235265809604608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Substitute Mariano came on the field in the injury time (90+1) and his first touch goal by 90+2 minutes sealed a vital home victory for Zidane's side.&nbsp;

"It's been a tough week," said Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. "We talked about how we had an opportunity this weekend and we took it."

Barca coach Quique Setien said that his side was outplayed and nervous with the ball. He said: "The reality is we lost a lot of confidence with the ball. We entered a nervous spell and that's when the goal came."

Lionel Messi's stunning strike in the first half was saved by Thibaut Courtois was the only major attempt by Barcelona for a goal. Barcelona struck 9 shots (4 on target). Real Madrid hit 13 shots (5 on target).&nbsp;

Real Madrid topples Barcelona to become the leaders of the La Liga after beating the Catalan Giants 2-0 in an El Clasico clash on Sunday. Also read: Champions League: 10-men Barcelona see their way out against Napoli This was Zinedine Zidane's first home victory against Barcelona in La Liga.

Real Madrid topples Barcelona to become the leaders of the La Liga after beating the Catalan Giants 2-0 in an El Clasico clash on Sunday. Also read: Champions League: 10-men Barcelona see their way out against Napoli This was Zinedine Zidane's first home victory against Barcelona in La Liga. Real Madrid's stunning second-half display secured them a win. Also read: Champions League: Guardiola's masterclass ensures Man City comeback against Real Madrid Vinicius Junior struck first for Real Madrid in the 71st minute. At the age of 19 years and 233 days Vinicius became the youngest player in the 21st century to score in an El Clasico. The previous record was held by Lionel Messi who in March 2007 who scored at the age of 19 years and 259 days. 🏁 FP: @RealMadrid 2-0 @FCBarcelona_es ⚽ @viniciusjr 71', @marianodiaz7 90'+2'#RealFootball | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/GzaRQDC0eo — Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) March 1, 2020 × Substitute Mariano came on the field in the injury time (90+1) and his first touch goal by 90+2 minutes sealed a vital home victory for Zidane's side. "It's been a tough week," said Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. "We talked about how we had an opportunity this weekend and we took it." Barca coach Quique Setien said that his side was outplayed and nervous with the ball. He said: "The reality is we lost a lot of confidence with the ball. We entered a nervous spell and that's when the goal came." Lionel Messi's stunning strike in the first half was saved by Thibaut Courtois was the only major attempt by Barcelona for a goal. Barcelona struck 9 shots (4 on target). Real Madrid hit 13 shots (5 on target).

La Liga: Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr record breaking goal topple Barcelona in El Clasico

<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

After the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/can-el-clasico-sans-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-light-up-camp-nou-173983">El Clasico</a> match between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-crash-to-defeat-at-levante-after-second-half-collapse-259630">Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrid-keep-pace-with-barca-as-bale-suffers-hostile-reception-264159">Real Madrid</a> ended as a goalless draw, protesters clashed with police outside the Camp Nou.

Clashes began between police and protesters outside the ground as demonstrations continued surrounding the Catalan separatist movement, with several arrests and reports of injuries, Goal.com reported.

Nine people have been arrested for throwing objects at law enforcement officials.

The match between the two rivals was originally set for October 26, but the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-back-out-of-next-months-la-liga-miami-match-183117"> Spanish FA </a>decided to push back kick-off by two months after fierce protests in Barcelona regarding prison sentences handed down to several key figures in the Catalan separatist movement.

As the game neared its conclusion, an announcement was made over the Camp Nou loudspeaker for fans to avoid certain exits, as fires had already been set by demonstrators outside the ground.

When the final whistle was blown, clashes between protesters and police intensified. Reports stated that masked protesters set trash bins on fire and threw rocks and glass bottles at police.

The second Clasico of the season is scheduled for March 1 and will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

After the El Clasico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid ended as a goalless draw, protesters clashed with police outside the Camp Nou. Clashes began between police and protesters outside the ground as demonstrations continued surrounding the Catalan separatist movement, with several arrests and reports of injuries, Goal.

After the El Clasico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid ended as a goalless draw, protesters clashed with police outside the Camp Nou. Clashes began between police and protesters outside the ground as demonstrations continued surrounding the Catalan separatist movement, with several arrests and reports of injuries, Goal.com reported. Nine people have been arrested for throwing objects at law enforcement officials. The match between the two rivals was originally set for October 26, but the Spanish FA decided to push back kick-off by two months after fierce protests in Barcelona regarding prison sentences handed down to several key figures in the Catalan separatist movement. As the game neared its conclusion, an announcement was made over the Camp Nou loudspeaker for fans to avoid certain exits, as fires had already been set by demonstrators outside the ground. When the final whistle was blown, clashes between protesters and police intensified. Reports stated that masked protesters set trash bins on fire and threw rocks and glass bottles at police. The second Clasico of the season is scheduled for March 1 and will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

El Clasico turns voilent as police and fans clash outside Camp Nou

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-and-rapinoe-expected-to-take-ballon-dor-honours-265502">Lionel Messi</a> underlined his ability to make the difference on big occasions by hitting a sensational late goal to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at title rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday as the champions reclaimed top spot in La Liga from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-real-madrid-go-top-with-gutsy-win-against-alaves-265514">Real Madrid</a>.

The Argentine, playing his 701st game for Barca, settled a pulsating and tense encounter in the 86th minute, galloping down the right wing and cutting inside before playing a one-two with Luis Suarez and guiding the ball into the bottom corner.

It was Messi's 30th goal in 39 competitive games against Atletico and inflicted a first home defeat on Diego Simeone's side since they were beaten by Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in February.

"Whenever you have a game like this which is really tight and really tough, being able to count on Messi is always an advantage," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.

Messi's strike saw Barca return to the top of the standings with 31 points after 14 games, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, while Atletico were left in sixth spot on 25 points, having played one match more than the two pacesetters.

Atleti and Barca hit the woodwork and visiting keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made two stunning saves, while the home side felt Gerard Pique should have been shown a second yellow card in the second half for a late tackle on Alvaro Morata.

"We feel very hard done by," said Atletico midfielder Saul Niguez. "We played superbly and Barcelona had hardly any chances but when Messi appears he is capable of doing anything and he made it look so easy, that's why he is the best."

Atleti were also fortunate not to have a player sent off when Vitolo slammed into Pique's knee with a fierce challenge a few minutes later after picking up an earlier booking.

Antoine Griezmann got a hostile reception from the home fans in his first game against his old side since a bitter 120 million euro ($132.26 million) transfer to Barca in the close season and had a poor game, firing his one chance over the bar.

Atleti were under pressure after one win in their previous six games and they made a flying start, nearly going ahead when Barca's Junior Firpo deflected a cross against the far post.

Soon after Ter Stegen pulled off a marvellous save by using his body to thwart Mario Hermoso from point-blank range.

The German then demonstrated outstanding reflexes by swooping to the ground to beat away a header from Morata, while he watched a shot from Hector Herrera fly past the post.

Barca were cagey in their approach for large chunks of the game although Pique hit the bar with a header before the break and Ivan Rakitic scuffed a shot straight at keeper Jan Oblak.

Roared on by 67,000 fans, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-atletico-madrid-held-at-alaves-after-perez-thunderbolt-258742">Atletico</a> looked more likely to snatch a winner but yet again Messi proved the difference.

The Argentine clinched the 2015 La Liga title for Barca with a strike against Atletico and also hit winning goals against them in pivotal games in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.

His goal here could also prove crucial in what looks set to be a thrilling two-horse race between Barca and Real, who meet on December&nbsp;18 in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/postponed-el-clasico-to-be-played-on-december-18-spanish-football-federation-257705">'Clasico' at the Camp Nou</a>.

"We suffered a little but games like these are the ones which can win you the title," added Barca's Sergi Roberto, who also credited his side's goalkeeper for the win.

"Marc saved two clear goals and Messi decided the game, but this was a triumph for the entire team," he added.

Lionel Messi underlined his ability to make the difference on big occasions by hitting a sensational late goal to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at title rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday as the champions reclaimed top spot in La Liga from Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi underlined his ability to make the difference on big occasions by hitting a sensational late goal to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at title rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday as the champions reclaimed top spot in La Liga from Real Madrid. The Argentine, playing his 701st game for Barca, settled a pulsating and tense encounter in the 86th minute, galloping down the right wing and cutting inside before playing a one-two with Luis Suarez and guiding the ball into the bottom corner. It was Messi's 30th goal in 39 competitive games against Atletico and inflicted a first home defeat on Diego Simeone's side since they were beaten by Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in February. "Whenever you have a game like this which is really tight and really tough, being able to count on Messi is always an advantage," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde. Messi's strike saw Barca return to the top of the standings with 31 points after 14 games, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, while Atletico were left in sixth spot on 25 points, having played one match more than the two pacesetters. Atleti and Barca hit the woodwork and visiting keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made two stunning saves, while the home side felt Gerard Pique should have been shown a second yellow card in the second half for a late tackle on Alvaro Morata. "We feel very hard done by," said Atletico midfielder Saul Niguez. "We played superbly and Barcelona had hardly any chances but when Messi appears he is capable of doing anything and he made it look so easy, that's why he is the best." Atleti were also fortunate not to have a player sent off when Vitolo slammed into Pique's knee with a fierce challenge a few minutes later after picking up an earlier booking. Antoine Griezmann got a hostile reception from the home fans in his first game against his old side since a bitter 120 million euro ($132.26 million) transfer to Barca in the close season and had a poor game, firing his one chance over the bar. Atleti were under pressure after one win in their previous six games and they made a flying start, nearly going ahead when Barca's Junior Firpo deflected a cross against the far post. Soon after Ter Stegen pulled off a marvellous save by using his body to thwart Mario Hermoso from point-blank range. The German then demonstrated outstanding reflexes by swooping to the ground to beat away a header from Morata, while he watched a shot from Hector Herrera fly past the post. Barca were cagey in their approach for large chunks of the game although Pique hit the bar with a header before the break and Ivan Rakitic scuffed a shot straight at keeper Jan Oblak. Roared on by 67,000 fans, Atletico looked more likely to snatch a winner but yet again Messi proved the difference. The Argentine clinched the 2015 La Liga title for Barca with a strike against Atletico and also hit winning goals against them in pivotal games in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons. His goal here could also prove crucial in what looks set to be a thrilling two-horse race between Barca and Real, who meet on December 18 in the 'Clasico' at the Camp Nou. "We suffered a little but games like these are the ones which can win you the title," added Barca's Sergi Roberto, who also credited his side's goalkeeper for the win. "Marc saved two clear goals and Messi decided the game, but this was a triumph for the entire team," he added.

La Liga: Lionel Messi sinks Atletico as Barcelona return to the top

The rearranged Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played on December 18 despite opposition from La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday.

Spain's most prestigious fixture, which was due to take place at Camp Nou on Saturday,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/october-26-clasico-between-barcelona-real-madrid-postponed-amid-catalan-crisis-256690"> was postponed</a> last week because of violent pro-independence protests in Catalonia. La Liga had proposed a new date of December 4.

&nbsp;

The rearranged Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played on December 18 despite opposition from La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday.

The rearranged Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played on December 18 despite opposition from La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday. Spain's most prestigious fixture, which was due to take place at Camp Nou on Saturday, was postponed last week because of violent pro-independence protests in Catalonia. La Liga had proposed a new date of December 4.

Postponed El Clasico to be played on December 18: Spanish Football Federation

Barcelona's October&nbsp;26 La Liga soccer match at home to Real Madrid has been postponed over security concerns amid violent political <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/catalonia-protests-take-a-violent-turn-256414">demonstrations in Catalonia</a>, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said in on Friday.

Following huge demonstrations over the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-jails-nine-catalan-leaders-up-to-13-years-for-sedition-255792"> jailing of nine Catalan </a>separatist leaders, the league's organising body made an official request to the RFEF this week for the game to be rearranged.

The federation approved that request on Friday.

Regional police said 16 people had been arrested across Catalonia, while health officials said medical aid was provided to 42 people.

On a fifth day of protests, hundreds of thousands of people waving pro-independence flags and chanting "Freedom for political prisoners" took part in marches across Catalonia on Friday, set to reach Barcelona, the regional capital, later in the day.

The RFEF's competition committee said it was up to the two clubs to arrange a new date for the game before a deadline of Oct. 21. Failing that, the committee would determine the new date.

Barcelona town hall said 400 garbage containers were set ablaze during protests on Wednesday and estimated that the city had suffered damage totaling more than 1 million euros in two days.

Barcelona's October 26 La Liga soccer match at home to Real Madrid has been postponed over security concerns amid violent political demonstrations in Catalonia, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said in on Friday.

Barcelona's October 26 La Liga soccer match at home to Real Madrid has been postponed over security concerns amid violent political demonstrations in Catalonia, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said in on Friday. Following huge demonstrations over the jailing of nine Catalan separatist leaders, the league's organising body made an official request to the RFEF this week for the game to be rearranged. The federation approved that request on Friday. Regional police said 16 people had been arrested across Catalonia, while health officials said medical aid was provided to 42 people. On a fifth day of protests, hundreds of thousands of people waving pro-independence flags and chanting "Freedom for political prisoners" took part in marches across Catalonia on Friday, set to reach Barcelona, the regional capital, later in the day. The RFEF's competition committee said it was up to the two clubs to arrange a new date for the game before a deadline of Oct. 21. Failing that, the committee would determine the new date. Barcelona town hall said 400 garbage containers were set ablaze during protests on Wednesday and estimated that the city had suffered damage totaling more than 1 million euros in two days.

El Clásico between Barcelona, Real Madrid postponed amid Catalan crisis

Barcelona&nbsp;won their second Clasico in four days on Saturday and Real Madrid might have to win the Champions League if Santiago Solari is to be in charge for the next one.

After knocking them out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Barca returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for a 1-0 victory that surely eliminates their greatest rivals from the title race too.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos locked heads after Ramos flung an arm into Messi's face but, despite the scoreline and a few half-chances, that was about the most trouble Madrid caused.&nbsp;

Messi would have been proud of Ivan Rakitic's delightful chip, a rare moment of precision that in the end settled another Clasico high on vigour but lacking in either real quality or rhythm.&nbsp;

"What we wanted was to deliver our best and to inflict damage on our rival," Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said. "We have done that."

The onus was on Madrid, not only to make amends for their defeat in midweek but to reduce the nine-point gap between them and La Liga's leaders.

Instead,&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;extended it to 12 and the way their players jumped up and down in front of the away fans after the final whistle suggested they felt this was a major hurdle overcome.

Barcelona&nbsp;also now own 96 victories in this fixture to Real Madrid's 95, the first time they have been in front in 87 years.

When Solari took over in November, his team were seven points adrift of the Catalans and the fact the deficit has almost doubled since might not reflect the improvement in performances.&nbsp;

But this was the first time Madrid have lost three in a row at home in 15 years and these are surely the matches president Florentino Perez will remember when he considers his coach's future next summer.

"You go through spells, sometimes everything goes for you and sometimes it doesn't," said Solari. "In these two games it hasn't."&nbsp;

All that realistically remains now is the Champions League, in which Madrid will carry a 2-1 lead into Tuesday's second leg at home to Ajax.

Europe has rescued them before and it also revived Gareth Bale, who endured another frustrating night on only his third start in 10 games.&nbsp;

Bale was largely anonymous again and when substituted in the second half, he departed not just to a scattering of whistles from the home crowd but a chorus.

"He tried, like the rest of the players," said Solari.

It took Busquets 89 seconds to be booked and only a few more for Bale to send the free-kick over the bar but Madrid started with purpose, like a team determined to right the wrongs of before.

Madrid fade

Their early impetus faded though as Barca, driven on by Messi, took control. Messi skipped through three players in midfield and was furious with Ousmane Dembele when he missed his late run into the box.

He then weaved in behind with the help of a Luis Suarez touch but, to everyone's surprise, the trademark lifted finish floated wide.

Rakitic showed him how to do it. He played the ball wide to Sergi Roberto, continued his run behind Ramos and received it back, before feathering a delightful chip over Thibaut Courtois.

Barca were comfortable but the game erupted on the stroke of half-time. Ramos won the ball from Messi but, with his arm outstretched, left it long enough to catch his opponent in the face. Messi pointed to his lip and then butted heads with Ramos but referee Alberto Mallenco saw nothing worthy of punishment.

Madrid pushed for an equaliser but their desperation showed. Benzema failed to connect while Vinicius Juniors' rushed shot was blocked.&nbsp;

Bale was hauled off just after the hour, replaced by Marco Asensio, and even Isco came on in the 76th minute, for his longest appearance since the end of January.&nbsp;

Raphael Varane might have snatched a late equaliser but his header was weak.&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;were left celebrating again.

Barcelona won their second Clasico in four days on Saturday and Real Madrid might have to win the Champions League if Santiago Solari is to be in charge for the next one.

Barcelona won their second Clasico in four days on Saturday and Real Madrid might have to win the Champions League if Santiago Solari is to be in charge for the next one. After knocking them out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Barca returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for a 1-0 victory that surely eliminates their greatest rivals from the title race too. Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos locked heads after Ramos flung an arm into Messi's face but, despite the scoreline and a few half-chances, that was about the most trouble Madrid caused. Messi would have been proud of Ivan Rakitic's delightful chip, a rare moment of precision that in the end settled another Clasico high on vigour but lacking in either real quality or rhythm. "What we wanted was to deliver our best and to inflict damage on our rival," Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said. "We have done that." The onus was on Madrid, not only to make amends for their defeat in midweek but to reduce the nine-point gap between them and La Liga's leaders. Instead, Barcelona extended it to 12 and the way their players jumped up and down in front of the away fans after the final whistle suggested they felt this was a major hurdle overcome. Barcelona also now own 96 victories in this fixture to Real Madrid's 95, the first time they have been in front in 87 years. When Solari took over in November, his team were seven points adrift of the Catalans and the fact the deficit has almost doubled since might not reflect the improvement in performances. But this was the first time Madrid have lost three in a row at home in 15 years and these are surely the matches president Florentino Perez will remember when he considers his coach's future next summer. "You go through spells, sometimes everything goes for you and sometimes it doesn't," said Solari. "In these two games it hasn't." All that realistically remains now is the Champions League, in which Madrid will carry a 2-1 lead into Tuesday's second leg at home to Ajax. Europe has rescued them before and it also revived Gareth Bale, who endured another frustrating night on only his third start in 10 games. Bale was largely anonymous again and when substituted in the second half, he departed not just to a scattering of whistles from the home crowd but a chorus. "He tried, like the rest of the players," said Solari. It took Busquets 89 seconds to be booked and only a few more for Bale to send the free-kick over the bar but Madrid started with purpose, like a team determined to right the wrongs of before. Madrid fade Their early impetus faded though as Barca, driven on by Messi, took control. Messi skipped through three players in midfield and was furious with Ousmane Dembele when he missed his late run into the box. He then weaved in behind with the help of a Luis Suarez touch but, to everyone's surprise, the trademark lifted finish floated wide. Rakitic showed him how to do it. He played the ball wide to Sergi Roberto, continued his run behind Ramos and received it back, before feathering a delightful chip over Thibaut Courtois. Barca were comfortable but the game erupted on the stroke of half-time. Ramos won the ball from Messi but, with his arm outstretched, left it long enough to catch his opponent in the face. Messi pointed to his lip and then butted heads with Ramos but referee Alberto Mallenco saw nothing worthy of punishment. Madrid pushed for an equaliser but their desperation showed. Benzema failed to connect while Vinicius Juniors' rushed shot was blocked. Bale was hauled off just after the hour, replaced by Marco Asensio, and even Isco came on in the 76th minute, for his longest appearance since the end of January. Raphael Varane might have snatched a late equaliser but his header was weak. Barcelona were left celebrating again.

Barcelona beat Real Madrid to edge closer to La Liga title

Jose Mourinho accused Real Madrid of lacking fight and looking unhappy against Barcelona on Saturday, just as the pressure cranked up on coach Santiago Solari after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-beat-real-madrid-to-edge-closer-to-la-liga-title-200860">second successive Clasico defeat</a>.&nbsp;

Mourinho has been among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Solari, as Madrid have been knocked out of both the Copa del Rey and, realistically, La Liga's title race within four days.&nbsp;

The fact that both losses came at the hands of Barca, and at the Santiago Bernabeu, compounds the misery.&nbsp;

After losing 3-0 in the cup on Wednesday, Madrid were inferior again in the rematch, as Ivan Rakitic's delightful chip earned Barcelona a 1-0 win.&nbsp;

"I think it was not a happy performance," Mourinho said as a pundit for bEIN Sports. "It was not the performance of a happy team, of a team with great belief and self-esteem.&nbsp;

"Clearly they are now in a zone after a few bad results, especially after the cup match, where they are in a low. They couldn't bring to the game what I used to call the temperature of the big matches. They were passive.&nbsp;

"I cannot speak about a bad performance, it is just a soft performance. Sometimes you play like this against medium teams and in the end, you get a positive result, but against the top teams you have to do a lot more than this if you want to win."&nbsp;

Former Real Madrid president Roman Calderon has claimed Mourinho will take over in the summer.

"I'm pretty sure he has general information about the club of his passion," Mourinho said. "But he knows more than me because I know absolutely nothing about it at all."&nbsp;

'We will fight for it'

Mourinho also said it was "very flattering" to hear Spanish Football Federation president Javier Tebas saying last month La Liga missed coaches like him and Pep Guardiola.&nbsp;

Many will see Mourinho's comments as conveniently timed given Solari now appears particularly vulnerable.&nbsp;

When Solari took charge in November, Madrid were seven points behind Barcelona but that gap now stands at 12. They have also lost three consecutive games at home for the first time in 15 years.&nbsp;

"Football is about being clinical and they were much more clinical," said captain Sergio Ramos. "It is true with the consistency Barca are showing, they have increased the gap on us again and taken another important step towards winning the league."&nbsp;

Madrid's season, and perhaps Solari's future, will again depend on them winning the Champions League. They carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg at home to Ajax on Tuesday.

"We need the league for fitness and rhythm so we must continue working and keep winning games," Ramos said. "We have another final in the Champions League on Tuesday and we will fight for it. In the league we will try to reduce the gap."&nbsp;

Jose Mourinho accused Real Madrid of lacking fight and looking unhappy against Barcelona on Saturday, just as the pressure cranked up on coach Santiago Solari after a second successive Clasico defeat.

Jose Mourinho accused Real Madrid of lacking fight and looking unhappy against Barcelona on Saturday, just as the pressure cranked up on coach Santiago Solari after a second successive Clasico defeat. Mourinho has been among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Solari, as Madrid have been knocked out of both the Copa del Rey and, realistically, La Liga's title race within four days. The fact that both losses came at the hands of Barca, and at the Santiago Bernabeu, compounds the misery. After losing 3-0 in the cup on Wednesday, Madrid were inferior again in the rematch, as Ivan Rakitic's delightful chip earned Barcelona a 1-0 win. "I think it was not a happy performance," Mourinho said as a pundit for bEIN Sports. "It was not the performance of a happy team, of a team with great belief and self-esteem. "Clearly they are now in a zone after a few bad results, especially after the cup match, where they are in a low. They couldn't bring to the game what I used to call the temperature of the big matches. They were passive. "I cannot speak about a bad performance, it is just a soft performance. Sometimes you play like this against medium teams and in the end, you get a positive result, but against the top teams you have to do a lot more than this if you want to win." Former Real Madrid president Roman Calderon has claimed Mourinho will take over in the summer. "I'm pretty sure he has general information about the club of his passion," Mourinho said. "But he knows more than me because I know absolutely nothing about it at all." 'We will fight for it' Mourinho also said it was "very flattering" to hear Spanish Football Federation president Javier Tebas saying last month La Liga missed coaches like him and Pep Guardiola. Many will see Mourinho's comments as conveniently timed given Solari now appears particularly vulnerable. When Solari took charge in November, Madrid were seven points behind Barcelona but that gap now stands at 12. They have also lost three consecutive games at home for the first time in 15 years. "Football is about being clinical and they were much more clinical," said captain Sergio Ramos. "It is true with the consistency Barca are showing, they have increased the gap on us again and taken another important step towards winning the league." Madrid's season, and perhaps Solari's future, will again depend on them winning the Champions League. They carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg at home to Ajax on Tuesday. "We need the league for fitness and rhythm so we must continue working and keep winning games," Ramos said. "We have another final in the Champions League on Tuesday and we will fight for it. In the league we will try to reduce the gap."

Unhappy Real Madrid were too soft against Barcelona: Jose Mourinho

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said that club's "priority is winning La Liga" because it gives you the sense of being consistent throughout the whole season.&nbsp;

While addressing press conference ahead of the El Classico, Valverde said, "We are leaders of La Liga but there is still a long way to go, including many tough matches. You can only think of winning two trophies, once you have won one."

He also mentioned that Barca need to ensure Lionel Messi is more involved in Saturday's match against Real Madrid than he was in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg victory over the Catalans' arch-rivals.&nbsp;

"You always expect a lot of your players, Messi included. He always performs, even though at times he performs less than others. We have to play well in order for him to perform," said Valverde.&nbsp;

Barcelona will aim to record their second 'El Clasico' victory at the Santiago Bernabeu in the space of three days.&nbsp;

A Barcelona win would move them 12 points clear of their fierce rivals at the summit, and 10 ahead of Atletico Madrid who visit Real Sociedad on Sunday.&nbsp;

The coach gave an honest assessment of the previous meeting, in which Barca had only four shots to Real's 14. "It's true that the other day there were spells when we did not play well, they kept arriving in our area and looked dangerous and we only created two or three chances. The aim is always to improve and create more chances," he told journalists.&nbsp;

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said that club's "priority is winning La Liga" because it gives you the sense of being consistent throughout the whole season. While addressing press conference ahead of the El Classico, Valverde said, "We are leaders of La Liga but there is still a long way to go, including many tough matches.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said that club's "priority is winning La Liga" because it gives you the sense of being consistent throughout the whole season. While addressing press conference ahead of the El Classico, Valverde said, "We are leaders of La Liga but there is still a long way to go, including many tough matches. You can only think of winning two trophies, once you have won one." He also mentioned that Barca need to ensure Lionel Messi is more involved in Saturday's match against Real Madrid than he was in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg victory over the Catalans' arch-rivals. "You always expect a lot of your players, Messi included. He always performs, even though at times he performs less than others. We have to play well in order for him to perform," said Valverde. Barcelona will aim to record their second 'El Clasico' victory at the Santiago Bernabeu in the space of three days. A Barcelona win would move them 12 points clear of their fierce rivals at the summit, and 10 ahead of Atletico Madrid who visit Real Sociedad on Sunday. The coach gave an honest assessment of the previous meeting, in which Barca had only four shots to Real's 14. "It's true that the other day there were spells when we did not play well, they kept arriving in our area and looked dangerous and we only created two or three chances. The aim is always to improve and create more chances," he told journalists.

'Winning La Liga is priority', says Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari said on Friday (March 1) his side are back on their feet after losing to Barca in the King's Cup and ready to claim the three points in the upcoming Clasico.

Real's 3-0 defeat to Barca on Wednesday (February 27) saw them exit the competition 4-1 on aggregate.

Addressing reporters in Madrid, Solari insisted the team was doing "fine".

"Of course the other day we put all our effort in, we wanted to be in the final. We gave our best in the competition overall and in the last match. But that is it," he said.

"We are now back on our feet, thinking of tomorrow's game which is a different competition, the league. It is El Clasico once again and we are very focused and looking forward to it," Solari added.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr delivered one of the best performances of his young career in Wednesday's match but missed a slew of chances to score.

The 18-year-old has come a long way but has room to improve, Solari told reporters.

"Beyond his youth and his freshness and his profundity, his skill, creativity, sacrifice, his will to learn, the way he bears the weight, the pressure. So many things in such short time. I want to look at that. Of course it is his job and the job of those around him to make him improve," he said.

Solari also continued to play down any talk of a rift with Gareth Bale, saying that fans were aware of the Welshman's contributions to the team.

Madrid will host the La Liga leaders Barca again on Saturday (March 2) in what is their last realistic attempt to get back into the title race, as they currently sit third, nine points adrift of the Catalans.

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari said on Friday (March 1) his side are back on their feet after losing to Barca in the King's Cup and ready to claim the three points in the upcoming Clasico.

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari said on Friday (March 1) his side are back on their feet after losing to Barca in the King's Cup and ready to claim the three points in the upcoming Clasico. Real's 3-0 defeat to Barca on Wednesday (February 27) saw them exit the competition 4-1 on aggregate. Addressing reporters in Madrid, Solari insisted the team was doing "fine". "Of course the other day we put all our effort in, we wanted to be in the final. We gave our best in the competition overall and in the last match. But that is it," he said. "We are now back on our feet, thinking of tomorrow's game which is a different competition, the league. It is El Clasico once again and we are very focused and looking forward to it," Solari added. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr delivered one of the best performances of his young career in Wednesday's match but missed a slew of chances to score. The 18-year-old has come a long way but has room to improve, Solari told reporters. "Beyond his youth and his freshness and his profundity, his skill, creativity, sacrifice, his will to learn, the way he bears the weight, the pressure. So many things in such short time. I want to look at that. Of course it is his job and the job of those around him to make him improve," he said. Solari also continued to play down any talk of a rift with Gareth Bale, saying that fans were aware of the Welshman's contributions to the team. Madrid will host the La Liga leaders Barca again on Saturday (March 2) in what is their last realistic attempt to get back into the title race, as they currently sit third, nine points adrift of the Catalans.

Real Madrid back on their feet for El Clasico

A clinical Barcelona won 3-0 at Real Madrid in an intense second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final for the sixth straight season.

A dominant yet wasteful Real ravaged their rivals in the first half while spurning a string of clear chances at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yet Barca went ahead against the run of play in the 50th minute as Ousmane Dembele led a counter-attack and Suarez slotted his pass into the net.

Spearheaded by the pace and confidence of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr, Madrid continued to fly forward but failed to find the target.

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🔵🔴 This is becoming something of a habit ... And a very nice one too! <a href="https://t.co/uXLg07jjoj">https://t.co/uXLg07jjoj</a>
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Barca effectively killed off the tie when Raphael Varane bundled the ball into his own net as he tried to prevent Suarez reaching another cross from Dembele.

Suarez then earned a penalty and further humiliated Madrid by converting with an audacious 'Panenka', deceiving goalkeeper Keylor Navas by chipping the ball into the net.

Barca, who lost first leg games to Levante and Sevilla in the Cup and drew 1-1 with Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final, booked their place in the final at the Benito Villamarin stadium, the home of Real Betis, on May 25.

Bidding to win the trophy for a record fifth year in a row, the Catalans will face either Betis or Valencia, who drew 2-2 in the first leg of their semi-final and meet again on Thursday.

"This is another demonstration of how good this team is. People keep saying that we don't care about the Cup, but we have shown that we always want to win every single trophy," Suarez told reporters.

Numerous Chances

Real coach Santiago Solari stressed his side's dominance in the game but cursed their inability to take their numerous chances.

"In football, you have to be efficient and take the chances you get," he said.

"We fell with honour, we could do no more. We were not clinical but they were, and we go home feeling hurt because we really wanted to reach the final."

Worst of all for Madrid, La Liga leaders Barca will be back at the Bernabeu once again on Saturday for a league fixture which, should they win again, would see them move 12 points clear of their arch-rivals.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde attempted to neutralise the threat of Vinicius by deploying right-sided defenders Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo to protect the left flank but the Brazilian was still the most dangerous player in the first half.

Vinicius could have won a penalty when Semedo clattered into him and had three clear chances to score before the interval, failing to hit the target twice from inside the area, and being thwarted by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

He continued to dance his way through Barca's defence after the break but his final touch let him down.

Shortly after Suarez's opener, he cut into the box and delivered a cross which Sergio Reguilon met with a diving header, but Ter Stegen flew across his goal to repel the effort.

Madrid, who were also beaten 3-0 by Barca at the Bernabeu in La Liga last season and were thrashed 5-1 by their rivals back in October, lost their heads after that chance and there was no coming back following Varane's own goal.

Barca seemed to relish their role as Real's tormentors and Suarez took the ball from usual penalty taker Lionel Messi to complete their fourth victory in five visits to the Bernabeu with an ice-cool finish from the spot.

A clinical Barcelona won 3-0 at Real Madrid in an intense second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final for the sixth straight season.

A clinical Barcelona won 3-0 at Real Madrid in an intense second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final for the sixth straight season. A dominant yet wasteful Real ravaged their rivals in the first half while spurning a string of clear chances at the Santiago Bernabeu. Yet Barca went ahead against the run of play in the 50th minute as Ousmane Dembele led a counter-attack and Suarez slotted his pass into the net. Spearheaded by the pace and confidence of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr, Madrid continued to fly forward but failed to find the target. 🔵🔴 This is becoming something of a habit ... And a very nice one too! https://t.co/uXLg07jjoj — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 28, 2019 × Barca effectively killed off the tie when Raphael Varane bundled the ball into his own net as he tried to prevent Suarez reaching another cross from Dembele. Suarez then earned a penalty and further humiliated Madrid by converting with an audacious 'Panenka', deceiving goalkeeper Keylor Navas by chipping the ball into the net. Barca, who lost first leg games to Levante and Sevilla in the Cup and drew 1-1 with Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final, booked their place in the final at the Benito Villamarin stadium, the home of Real Betis, on May 25. Bidding to win the trophy for a record fifth year in a row, the Catalans will face either Betis or Valencia, who drew 2-2 in the first leg of their semi-final and meet again on Thursday. "This is another demonstration of how good this team is. People keep saying that we don't care about the Cup, but we have shown that we always want to win every single trophy," Suarez told reporters. Numerous Chances Real coach Santiago Solari stressed his side's dominance in the game but cursed their inability to take their numerous chances. "In football, you have to be efficient and take the chances you get," he said. "We fell with honour, we could do no more. We were not clinical but they were, and we go home feeling hurt because we really wanted to reach the final." Worst of all for Madrid, La Liga leaders Barca will be back at the Bernabeu once again on Saturday for a league fixture which, should they win again, would see them move 12 points clear of their arch-rivals. Barca coach Ernesto Valverde attempted to neutralise the threat of Vinicius by deploying right-sided defenders Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo to protect the left flank but the Brazilian was still the most dangerous player in the first half. Vinicius could have won a penalty when Semedo clattered into him and had three clear chances to score before the interval, failing to hit the target twice from inside the area, and being thwarted by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. He continued to dance his way through Barca's defence after the break but his final touch let him down. Shortly after Suarez's opener, he cut into the box and delivered a cross which Sergio Reguilon met with a diving header, but Ter Stegen flew across his goal to repel the effort. Madrid, who were also beaten 3-0 by Barca at the Bernabeu in La Liga last season and were thrashed 5-1 by their rivals back in October, lost their heads after that chance and there was no coming back following Varane's own goal. Barca seemed to relish their role as Real's tormentors and Suarez took the ball from usual penalty taker Lionel Messi to complete their fourth victory in five visits to the Bernabeu with an ice-cool finish from the spot.

Copa del Rey: Luis Suarez double downs Real Madrid to send Barcelona into final

While La Liga features the brightest stars from the world of football, El Clasico between two club footballing superpowers -- Barcelona and Real Madrid -- has always been reckoned unrivalled rivalry.&nbsp;

For the past 10 years, it has been a personal playground for two larger-than-life global icons -- Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo -- but neither of them will be playing today when Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns at the Nou Camp.

It's a foregone conclusion that Cristiano Ronaldo will never play in the most famous club football fixture in the world after he made the summer move to Italian behemoth Juventus but nobody expected Lionel Messi to miss out.

The Barcelona talisman was forced off the pitch after colliding with Sevilla's Franco Vazquez in the first half of his side's 4-2 last weekend

It's the 272nd edition of Clasico and the first featuring neither Messi nor Ronaldo since December 2007.

Has that taken the sheen off the brand El Clasico? To some extent, yes. But the&nbsp;footballing extravaganza of a colossal proposition&nbsp;has attracted a huge fan following over several decades.

In order to conclude that both Messi and Ronaldo have been the brightest of stars in the galaxy of world-class talent that Spanish football boasts of, we don't have to look beyond the statistics: Messi is the fixture's all-time leading scorer (26 goals) and assister (14), while Ronaldo holds the record for the most consecutive Clasicos with a goal in six games in 2012.

Since Ronaldo's departure, Madrid has missed their talisman and Barcelona know they will miss Messi today. For Madrid, Bale has some record: 200 games, 92 goals, 62 assists. But another statistic concerns: while he has played in 200, he has not played in 103. He began this season with responsibility but Madrid’s form has been teetering.&nbsp;

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Madrid's midfield stars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have not found their feet; defensively, the team have been dreadful, Sergio Ramos especially; Benzema’s evolution into a No 9 again is not complete, and nor is Bale's evolution into a leader.&nbsp;

The club went five games without scoring. Coach Julen Lopetegui bemoaned misfortune but there was more, and it brought the head coach to the edge of the abyss.

Monday is Lopetegui's 137th day as manager. It may also be his last. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but one day and soon, he will be sacked. The same lack of alternatives and time that helped put him in the job are all that keep him in it.

Lose on Sunday and Madrid would be seven points behind Barcelona; win and they would be only one point off – and favouritism so rarely plays out the way it should.

Defensively vulnerable, Barcelona have not always impressed either and losing Messi is huge. Asked if his absence conditioned the team, the club coach Ernesto Valverde replied: "Not at all ..." and then laughed: "We have to accept it. It doesn't bring me out in a rash to hear the word 'Messidependency'.

Data experts FiveThirtyEight put an estimate of 75m as its global audience in 2015, which would suggest that the latest meeting between these two eternal rivals is no Super Bowl or Champions League final but still a bigger worldwide televisual draw than the Oscars.

With its array of glamorous stars, a bevy of awards to be claimed and social media verdicts awaiting each and every pratfall with bated breath, El Clasico truly is a global phenomenon. And with Gareth Bale, Philippe Coutinho and Sergio Ramos on the pitch the football shouldn't be too bad either.

However, Clasico will sorely miss the two legends.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

While La Liga features the brightest stars from the world of football, El Clasico between two club footballing superpowers -- Barcelona and Real Madrid -- has always been reckoned unrivalled rivalry.

While La Liga features the brightest stars from the world of football, El Clasico between two club footballing superpowers -- Barcelona and Real Madrid -- has always been reckoned unrivalled rivalry. For the past 10 years, it has been a personal playground for two larger-than-life global icons -- Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo -- but neither of them will be playing today when Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns at the Nou Camp. It's a foregone conclusion that Cristiano Ronaldo will never play in the most famous club football fixture in the world after he made the summer move to Italian behemoth Juventus but nobody expected Lionel Messi to miss out. The Barcelona talisman was forced off the pitch after colliding with Sevilla's Franco Vazquez in the first half of his side's 4-2 last weekend It's the 272nd edition of Clasico and the first featuring neither Messi nor Ronaldo since December 2007. Has that taken the sheen off the brand El Clasico? To some extent, yes. But the footballing extravaganza of a colossal proposition has attracted a huge fan following over several decades. In order to conclude that both Messi and Ronaldo have been the brightest of stars in the galaxy of world-class talent that Spanish football boasts of, we don't have to look beyond the statistics: Messi is the fixture's all-time leading scorer (26 goals) and assister (14), while Ronaldo holds the record for the most consecutive Clasicos with a goal in six games in 2012. Since Ronaldo's departure, Madrid has missed their talisman and Barcelona know they will miss Messi today. For Madrid, Bale has some record: 200 games, 92 goals, 62 assists. But another statistic concerns: while he has played in 200, he has not played in 103. He began this season with responsibility but Madrid’s form has been teetering. × Madrid's midfield stars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have not found their feet; defensively, the team have been dreadful, Sergio Ramos especially; Benzema’s evolution into a No 9 again is not complete, and nor is Bale's evolution into a leader. The club went five games without scoring. Coach Julen Lopetegui bemoaned misfortune but there was more, and it brought the head coach to the edge of the abyss. Monday is Lopetegui's 137th day as manager. It may also be his last. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but one day and soon, he will be sacked. The same lack of alternatives and time that helped put him in the job are all that keep him in it. Lose on Sunday and Madrid would be seven points behind Barcelona; win and they would be only one point off – and favouritism so rarely plays out the way it should. Defensively vulnerable, Barcelona have not always impressed either and losing Messi is huge. Asked if his absence conditioned the team, the club coach Ernesto Valverde replied: "Not at all ..." and then laughed: "We have to accept it. It doesn't bring me out in a rash to hear the word 'Messidependency'. Data experts FiveThirtyEight put an estimate of 75m as its global audience in 2015, which would suggest that the latest meeting between these two eternal rivals is no Super Bowl or Champions League final but still a bigger worldwide televisual draw than the Oscars. With its array of glamorous stars, a bevy of awards to be claimed and social media verdicts awaiting each and every pratfall with bated breath, El Clasico truly is a global phenomenon. And with Gareth Bale, Philippe Coutinho and Sergio Ramos on the pitch the football shouldn't be too bad either. However, Clasico will sorely miss the two legends. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Can El Clasico sans Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo light up Camp Nou?

Real&nbsp;Madrid&nbsp;manager Julen Lopetegui said following a 5-1 mauling by arch-rivals Barcelona that he accepted responsibility for the club's crisis period but insisted the team can bounce back and achieve glory.

Lopetegui has been widely expected to receive the sack in the past few weeks following poor performances by arguably the world's most successful club.

The 5-1 defeat in the "El Clasico" derby against the Catalans has seen them slip all the way down to ninth in the league table, behind the likes of Getafe and Levante.

The manager said he wouldn't blame anyone should he be fired and defended his players, saying responsibility ultimately rested with him.

Barca manager Ernesto Valverde said he preferred not to see any manager sacked, including Lopetegui. He voiced satisfaction at the result and said he hoped it would help build momentum for the side in their bid to defend their league title.

Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui said following a 5-1 mauling by arch-rivals Barcelona that he accepted responsibility for the club's crisis period but insisted the team can bounce back and achieve glory.

Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui said following a 5-1 mauling by arch-rivals Barcelona that he accepted responsibility for the club's crisis period but insisted the team can bounce back and achieve glory. Lopetegui has been widely expected to receive the sack in the past few weeks following poor performances by arguably the world's most successful club. The 5-1 defeat in the "El Clasico" derby against the Catalans has seen them slip all the way down to ninth in the league table, behind the likes of Getafe and Levante. The manager said he wouldn't blame anyone should he be fired and defended his players, saying responsibility ultimately rested with him. Barca manager Ernesto Valverde said he preferred not to see any manager sacked, including Lopetegui. He voiced satisfaction at the result and said he hoped it would help build momentum for the side in their bid to defend their league title.

Lopetegui takes blame for Real crisis, says team capable of bouncing back

Barcelona against Real Madrid is a rivalry that goes back 116 years, to a pitch drenched in horse manure and spectators that cheered players falling over as much as them scoring a goal.&nbsp;

Barca won that first meeting in May 1902, 3-1, but more than a century on the landscape looks rather different.

Two of the world's greatest clubs are engaged in a battle off the pitch just as fierce: the race to €1&nbsp;billion.

This autumn, their presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu of Barcelona and Florentino Perez of Madrid, each made clear their desperation to cross the line first.&nbsp;

The revenue milestone is not just financial, it is a mark of status, proof of success, another notch in the debate about which club is bigger.&nbsp;

In five years, Madrid's turnover has soared from €521 million&nbsp;to a projected €752 million&nbsp;for the 2018/19 season. Barca pocketed €490 million&nbsp;five years ago. This season they expect to make 960 million. &nbsp;

"Either club could be the first one to do this," Esteve Calzada, Barcelona's marketing director between 2002 and 2007, and now boss of Prime Time Sport group, told AFP this week.

But there is still work to do. "It will take a few more years unless either club sells a player before then for €400 million," said Placido Rodriguez Guerrero, professor at the University of Oviedo and researcher in sports economics.&nbsp;

Success on the pitch counts for a lot. Winning trophies swells the sums made from broadcasting rights and activates pre-agreed bonuses.&nbsp;

Barcelona will receive from their shirt sponsor Rakuten an extra €1.5 million&nbsp;if they win La Liga this season and another €5 million if they triumph in the Champions League.&nbsp;

The clubs can target global stars that boost visibility and merchandise sales, by the sheer weight of their talent and profile.

During the 2000s, it was a policy that made its name in Madrid, as the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo were all signed for hefty fees. In recent years, the club has reined in its spending.

"It can be positive in the short term to have a superstar, they join because of the brand and then help build the brand further," says Michael Goldberg, senior vice president at the global credit rating agency DBRS.&nbsp;

"But we don´t believe having a star enhances credit that much over the long-term. Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Madrid will not do much damage unless it´s the beginning of the end and it becomes a regular pattern."

Instead, the clincher is likely to lie in stadium plans. Barca's Camp Nou and Real's Santiago Bernabeu are set to undergo major overhauls from 2019, with the aim of enhancing commercial advantages.&nbsp;

At a time when clubs like Tottenham in the Premier League are struggling to keep the cost of a new ground below 1 billion pounds, the projects of Barca and Real Madrid appear relatively cheap.&nbsp;

For €400 million, Barcelona will increase the capacity of Camp Nou from 99,000 to 105,000 and install a roof. Madrid will not increase the 81,000 seats in the Santiago Bernabeu but will take out a loan of €525 million to add a roof and a metal envelope around the current structure.&nbsp;

Perez has indicated they expect the updates to bring in more than €150 million of additional revenue per year.

Added to that is the issue of naming rights, which can be a sensitive issue for fans, particularly when stadiums carry a deep sense of history and identity.&nbsp;

Madrid are yet to find a buyer but Barca have said they are "optimistic" they will agree a title-partner by June next year, in an agreement worth €200 million.&nbsp;

"Naming is a crucial issue," says Calzada, who estimates the rights could be worth €15 to €20 million&nbsp;each year.

"But there is an obstacle because we are talking about a redesign of these two stadiums, it is not a new stadium where it is much easier to start again with a new name."

There is also the need to break new ground internationally. Next year, Barcelona will fly to Asia for their summer tour while the club have expressed support for La Liga's highly-controversial plan to stage a fixture against Girona in January in the United States.&nbsp;

"The future for commercial is about tapping into worldwide fanbases," adds Benjamin Dennis, a writer at DBRS. "Fans in Miami will get to see a competitive match and that could be a difference maker if Barca play more games abroad."&nbsp;

In the race for financial superiority, nothing is off-limits.&nbsp;

Barcelona against Real Madrid is a rivalry that goes back 116 years, to a pitch drenched in horse manure and spectators that cheered players falling over as much as them scoring a goal.

Barcelona against Real Madrid is a rivalry that goes back 116 years, to a pitch drenched in horse manure and spectators that cheered players falling over as much as them scoring a goal. Barca won that first meeting in May 1902, 3-1, but more than a century on the landscape looks rather different. Two of the world's greatest clubs are engaged in a battle off the pitch just as fierce: the race to €1 billion. This autumn, their presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu of Barcelona and Florentino Perez of Madrid, each made clear their desperation to cross the line first. The revenue milestone is not just financial, it is a mark of status, proof of success, another notch in the debate about which club is bigger. In five years, Madrid's turnover has soared from €521 million to a projected €752 million for the 2018/19 season. Barca pocketed €490 million five years ago. This season they expect to make 960 million. "Either club could be the first one to do this," Esteve Calzada, Barcelona's marketing director between 2002 and 2007, and now boss of Prime Time Sport group, told AFP this week. But there is still work to do. "It will take a few more years unless either club sells a player before then for €400 million," said Placido Rodriguez Guerrero, professor at the University of Oviedo and researcher in sports economics. Success on the pitch counts for a lot. Winning trophies swells the sums made from broadcasting rights and activates pre-agreed bonuses. Barcelona will receive from their shirt sponsor Rakuten an extra €1.5 million if they win La Liga this season and another €5 million if they triumph in the Champions League. The clubs can target global stars that boost visibility and merchandise sales, by the sheer weight of their talent and profile. During the 2000s, it was a policy that made its name in Madrid, as the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo were all signed for hefty fees. In recent years, the club has reined in its spending. "It can be positive in the short term to have a superstar, they join because of the brand and then help build the brand further," says Michael Goldberg, senior vice president at the global credit rating agency DBRS. "But we don´t believe having a star enhances credit that much over the long-term. Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Madrid will not do much damage unless it´s the beginning of the end and it becomes a regular pattern." Instead, the clincher is likely to lie in stadium plans. Barca's Camp Nou and Real's Santiago Bernabeu are set to undergo major overhauls from 2019, with the aim of enhancing commercial advantages. At a time when clubs like Tottenham in the Premier League are struggling to keep the cost of a new ground below 1 billion pounds, the projects of Barca and Real Madrid appear relatively cheap. For €400 million, Barcelona will increase the capacity of Camp Nou from 99,000 to 105,000 and install a roof. Madrid will not increase the 81,000 seats in the Santiago Bernabeu but will take out a loan of €525 million to add a roof and a metal envelope around the current structure. Perez has indicated they expect the updates to bring in more than €150 million of additional revenue per year. Added to that is the issue of naming rights, which can be a sensitive issue for fans, particularly when stadiums carry a deep sense of history and identity. Madrid are yet to find a buyer but Barca have said they are "optimistic" they will agree a title-partner by June next year, in an agreement worth €200 million. "Naming is a crucial issue," says Calzada, who estimates the rights could be worth €15 to €20 million each year. "But there is an obstacle because we are talking about a redesign of these two stadiums, it is not a new stadium where it is much easier to start again with a new name." There is also the need to break new ground internationally. Next year, Barcelona will fly to Asia for their summer tour while the club have expressed support for La Liga's highly-controversial plan to stage a fixture against Girona in January in the United States. "The future for commercial is about tapping into worldwide fanbases," adds Benjamin Dennis, a writer at DBRS. "Fans in Miami will get to see a competitive match and that could be a difference maker if Barca play more games abroad." In the race for financial superiority, nothing is off-limits.

The Money Clasico - Real Madrid and Barcelona's race to a billion

When Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo in July, fans and local media alike all asked the same question: how do you replace him?

Ronaldo was Real's all-time top scorer, notching up 451 goals in 438 games in all competitions. He led the club to four Champions League titles from the last five available and was invariably the man who dug his side out of a hole with a goal from nothing just when they most needed a hero.

The message from inside the club, however, was that they did not need to make a ‘Galactico’ splash in the transfer market, and that the answer lay within the team already.

Gareth Bale, signed in 2013 for a then world-record $109.12 million&nbsp;from Tottenham Hotspur following an extended public courting, had long been marked out by Real president Florentino Perez as the man to take over from Ronaldo.

It was also suggested that French forward Karim Benzema would be freed from the shackles many perceived the Portuguese had placed on him and finally be able to play as a central striker.

Then there was Marco Asensio. The 22-year-old is arguably the hottest prospect in Spanish football and he was earmarked for a place in the front three. Goodbye to the ‘BBC’ (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) trident, hello to the ‘BBA’.

Things started well. Real enjoyed four wins and a draw from their first five La Liga games, with the trio netting eight of the 12 goals scored, while Roma were swatted aside in their Champions League group-stage opener. Bale looked the business, while Benzema threatened to become a goal-scoring machine.

However, following September’s 1-0 win over Espanyol, Real had five games without a win – a run in which they went eight hours and one minute without scoring.

While youngster Asensio can be forgiven for having his ups and downs, Bale picked up one of the many injuries that have blighted his time in the Spanish capital and Benzema looked the shadow of a striker capable of leading the line for the European champions.

It was the kind of thing that never happened when Ronaldo was at the club. It is no coincidence that Real have endured their most barren run in terms of victories and goals since just before the Portuguese joined the club in 2009.

They have slipped to seventh in La Liga, behind newly-promoted Valladolid, and the pressure is mounting on new coach Julen Lopetegui, who when he took over the club would have envisaged Ronaldo being a key part of his squad.

With Sunday’s Clasico looming, the first for 11 years that will feature neither the Portuguese nor Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, the onus is on Real to prove that life after Ronaldo does exist. A defeat would only intensify the storm clouds brewing over the Bernabeu.

When Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo in July, fans and local media alike all asked the same question: how do you replace him? Ronaldo was Real's all-time top scorer, notching up 451 goals in 438 games in all competitions.

When Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo in July, fans and local media alike all asked the same question: how do you replace him? Ronaldo was Real's all-time top scorer, notching up 451 goals in 438 games in all competitions. He led the club to four Champions League titles from the last five available and was invariably the man who dug his side out of a hole with a goal from nothing just when they most needed a hero. The message from inside the club, however, was that they did not need to make a ‘Galactico’ splash in the transfer market, and that the answer lay within the team already. Gareth Bale, signed in 2013 for a then world-record $109.12 million from Tottenham Hotspur following an extended public courting, had long been marked out by Real president Florentino Perez as the man to take over from Ronaldo. It was also suggested that French forward Karim Benzema would be freed from the shackles many perceived the Portuguese had placed on him and finally be able to play as a central striker. Then there was Marco Asensio. The 22-year-old is arguably the hottest prospect in Spanish football and he was earmarked for a place in the front three. Goodbye to the ‘BBC’ (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) trident, hello to the ‘BBA’. Things started well. Real enjoyed four wins and a draw from their first five La Liga games, with the trio netting eight of the 12 goals scored, while Roma were swatted aside in their Champions League group-stage opener. Bale looked the business, while Benzema threatened to become a goal-scoring machine. However, following September’s 1-0 win over Espanyol, Real had five games without a win – a run in which they went eight hours and one minute without scoring. While youngster Asensio can be forgiven for having his ups and downs, Bale picked up one of the many injuries that have blighted his time in the Spanish capital and Benzema looked the shadow of a striker capable of leading the line for the European champions. It was the kind of thing that never happened when Ronaldo was at the club. It is no coincidence that Real have endured their most barren run in terms of victories and goals since just before the Portuguese joined the club in 2009. They have slipped to seventh in La Liga, behind newly-promoted Valladolid, and the pressure is mounting on new coach Julen Lopetegui, who when he took over the club would have envisaged Ronaldo being a key part of his squad. With Sunday’s Clasico looming, the first for 11 years that will feature neither the Portuguese nor Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, the onus is on Real to prove that life after Ronaldo does exist. A defeat would only intensify the storm clouds brewing over the Bernabeu.

Replacing Ronaldo has proved tougher than Real Madrid expected

La Liga champions FC Barcelona continued its winning streak after drawing 2-2 against Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday in an ill-tempered and highly charged "El Clasico."

Despite the fact that Barcelona already won the La Liga title, the normal league match saw a total of 28 fouls, eight yellow cards and&nbsp;a red card. Maybe this is the reason why El Clasico is the most celebrated rivalry&nbsp;worldwide.

Other than the two teams, the referee Hernandez Hernandez is being criticised for ignoring several fouls that could have changed the result.

Barca striker Luis Suarez scored the first goal and gave a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute which was equalised just after four minutes by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the second half, Lionel Messi scored a stunner to give 2-1 lead but Madrid's forward Gareth Bale lashed home to deny La Liga champions a victory.

The match concluded with several controversies with both the teams playing a rough game.&nbsp;

Barca mid-fielder Sergio Roberto was given a red card for his unacceptable&nbsp;encounter with Marcelo.

Apart from verbal altercations and deliberate fouls, there were few incidents which referee ignored or missed completely and now they are being highlighted.

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Ramos: “Knowing Luis Suarez, I made clear that we wouldn't put the ball out of play.” [Marca] <a href="https://t.co/m1yrt0Np4p">pic.twitter.com/m1yrt0Np4p</a>
— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMadridInfo/status/993357376412618757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In the 52nd minute, Luis Suarez made a clear foul while tackling Real's defender Varane but was somehow ignored by the referee. The tackle resulted positively for Barca as Messi took advantage of the pass and scored in the extreme left of the net and stunned&nbsp;Real's goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

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how is this not a foul ladies and gentlemen <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElClasico?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElClasico</a> <a href="https://t.co/8dxvjMaEZH">pic.twitter.com/8dxvjMaEZH</a>
— Buzz (@GHfollowtrain) <a href="https://twitter.com/GHfollowtrain/status/993235777143427072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In another shocking event, Gareth Bale hit Barca defender Umtiti which went unpunished.

Jordi Alba grabbed Luka Modric by his neck which went unnoticed and Alba easily&nbsp;got away.&nbsp;

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Who does he think he is?? You can't grab Luka Modric by the neck!!! <a href="https://t.co/JK85wmpzyS">pic.twitter.com/JK85wmpzyS</a>
— Florentino Pérez (@RealFloPerez) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealFloPerez/status/993247624080838656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Also, a penalty by Jordi Alba was snubbed by a foul whistle that narrowed the Real chances to win the match when he pushed Marcelo. His&nbsp;spat with Marcelo also went unseen.

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Robbery Part 2: Ask any football fan, This is 100% Penalty and a straight Red Card for Jordi Alba. <a href="https://t.co/isbFYGGLX4">pic.twitter.com/isbFYGGLX4</a>
— RMadridBabe (@RMadridBabe) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMadridBabe/status/993226143024238593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Barcelona had their best&nbsp;chance when mid-fielder Ivan Rakitic was heading towards the goal but was given an invalid offside.

The list of incidents reflects on the urgent need of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in extremely intense matches such as "El Clasico."&nbsp;

The Barcelona-Real clash Sunday night saw 28 fouls, one grabbing of the neck, one red card, and eight yellows

La Liga champions FC Barcelona continued its winning streak after drawing 2-2 against Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday in an ill-tempered and highly charged "El Clasico." Despite the fact that Barcelona already won the La Liga title, the normal league match saw a total of 28 fouls, eight yellow cards and a red card. Maybe this is the reason why El Clasico is the most celebrated rivalry worldwide. Other than the two teams, the referee Hernandez Hernandez is being criticised for ignoring several fouls that could have changed the result. Barca striker Luis Suarez scored the first goal and gave a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute which was equalised just after four minutes by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo. In the second half, Lionel Messi scored a stunner to give 2-1 lead but Madrid's forward Gareth Bale lashed home to deny La Liga champions a victory. The match concluded with several controversies with both the teams playing a rough game. Barca mid-fielder Sergio Roberto was given a red card for his unacceptable encounter with Marcelo. Apart from verbal altercations and deliberate fouls, there were few incidents which referee ignored or missed completely and now they are being highlighted. Ramos: “Knowing Luis Suarez, I made clear that we wouldn't put the ball out of play.” [Marca] pic.twitter.com/m1yrt0Np4p — Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) May 7, 2018 × In the 52nd minute, Luis Suarez made a clear foul while tackling Real's defender Varane but was somehow ignored by the referee. The tackle resulted positively for Barca as Messi took advantage of the pass and scored in the extreme left of the net and stunned Real's goalkeeper Keylor Navas. how is this not a foul ladies and gentlemen #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/8dxvjMaEZH — Buzz (@GHfollowtrain) May 6, 2018 × In another shocking event, Gareth Bale hit Barca defender Umtiti which went unpunished. Jordi Alba grabbed Luka Modric by his neck which went unnoticed and Alba easily got away. Who does he think he is?? You can't grab Luka Modric by the neck!!! pic.twitter.com/JK85wmpzyS — Florentino Pérez (@RealFloPerez) May 6, 2018 × Also, a penalty by Jordi Alba was snubbed by a foul whistle that narrowed the Real chances to win the match when he pushed Marcelo. His spat with Marcelo also went unseen. Robbery Part 2: Ask any football fan, This is 100% Penalty and a straight Red Card for Jordi Alba. pic.twitter.com/isbFYGGLX4 — RMadridBabe (@RMadridBabe) May 6, 2018 × Barcelona had their best chance when mid-fielder Ivan Rakitic was heading towards the goal but was given an invalid offside. The list of incidents reflects on the urgent need of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in extremely intense matches such as "El Clasico."

'El Clasico' not so classic: Other times the referee got it wrong

Real Madrid refused to give a guard of honour in the El Clasico to the league champions FC Barcelona on Sunday but Barca defender Gerard Pique asked the club staff to perform the tradition.

Recently, Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane mentioned very clearly that Real Madrid will not give La Liga champions Barcelona a guard of honour when the sides meet in El Clasico.

While interacting with media, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said, "As we are a family, and they didn't want to give us a guard of honour, I have asked our staff to make one, with that we are leaving."

Watch the video:

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We did our own guard of honour since madrid refuse to give us. The coaching staff perform a 
guard of honor for the team <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/For%C3%A7aBar%C3%A7a?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForçaBarça</a>! <a href="https://t.co/6ZZEZdVhNY">pic.twitter.com/6ZZEZdVhNY</a>
— Nélsinho Nélsóg (@nelsog10) <a href="https://twitter.com/nelsog10/status/993422369178955776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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La Liga Referees gave Guard of Honour to Barcelona players after tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElClasico?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElClasico</a> at Camp Nou. 
 
Don't be surprised. <a href="https://t.co/lCpjVyBgkD">pic.twitter.com/lCpjVyBgkD</a>
— RMadridBabe (@RMadridBabe) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMadridBabe/status/993238749575352320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In a very intriguing clash, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored at the 10th and 52nd minute respectively to help Barca in continuing its winning streak.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale lashed home to deny La Liga champions Barcelona victory in an ill-tempered 'Clasico' which finished 2-2 at the Nou Camp on Sunday (May 6) after the home side had Sergi Roberto sent off at the end of the first half.

Recently, Zinedine Zidane said that Real Madrid will not give La Liga champions Barcelona a guard of honour when the sides meet in El Clasico

Real Madrid refused to give a guard of honour in the El Clasico to the league champions FC Barcelona on Sunday but Barca defender Gerard Pique asked the club staff to perform the tradition. Recently, Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane mentioned very clearly that Real Madrid will not give La Liga champions Barcelona a guard of honour when the sides meet in El Clasico. While interacting with media, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said, "As we are a family, and they didn't want to give us a guard of honour, I have asked our staff to make one, with that we are leaving." Watch the video: We did our own guard of honour since madrid refuse to give us. The coaching staff perform a guard of honor for the team #ForçaBarça! pic.twitter.com/6ZZEZdVhNY — Nélsinho Nélsóg (@nelsog10) May 7, 2018 × La Liga Referees gave Guard of Honour to Barcelona players after tonight's #ElClasico at Camp Nou. Don't be surprised. pic.twitter.com/lCpjVyBgkD — RMadridBabe (@RMadridBabe) May 6, 2018 × In a very intriguing clash, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored at the 10th and 52nd minute respectively to help Barca in continuing its winning streak. Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale lashed home to deny La Liga champions Barcelona victory in an ill-tempered 'Clasico' which finished 2-2 at the Nou Camp on Sunday (May 6) after the home side had Sergi Roberto sent off at the end of the first half.

Gerard Pique asked Barca staff members to give guard of honour as Real Madrid snubbed

Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone on Thursday ahead of Real Madrid&#39;s clash against Barcelona this weekend, after sustaining a knock to his calf during the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

The Portugal star received rough treatment as he scored the winner in last Saturday&#39;s 1-0 victory over Brazilians Gremio in the final, but Ronaldo had insisted he would be fit for the visit of Barcelona.

&quot;Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone out on the pitch, both with and without the ball,&quot; Real wrote on their website, two days ahead of Saturday&#39;s Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Following Real&#39;s return to Spain, the five-time Ballon d&#39;Or recipient had remained in the gym on Tuesday and Wednesday before finally lacing up his boots for an individual training session on Thursday.

Spanish sports daily As reported it was simply a &quot;precaution&quot; as Real look to trim the 11-point gap between themselves and leaders Barcelona, who are unbeaten in La Liga this season.

&quot;He will play in the Clasico barring last-minute surprise,&quot; the paper added.

Zinedine Zidane&#39;s Real, who also trail Atletico Madrid and Valencia, are fourth in the table and realistically must win this weekend to remain in the running for the Spanish title.

Cristiano took a knock to his calf during the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi

Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone on Thursday ahead of Real Madrid's clash against Barcelona this weekend, after sustaining a knock to his calf during the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. The Portugal star received rough treatment as he scored the winner in last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Brazilians Gremio in the final, but Ronaldo had insisted he would be fit for the visit of Barcelona. "Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone out on the pitch, both with and without the ball," Real wrote on their website, two days ahead of Saturday's Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. Following Real's return to Spain, the five-time Ballon d'Or recipient had remained in the gym on Tuesday and Wednesday before finally lacing up his boots for an individual training session on Thursday. Spanish sports daily As reported it was simply a "precaution" as Real look to trim the 11-point gap between themselves and leaders Barcelona, who are unbeaten in La Liga this season. "He will play in the Clasico barring last-minute surprise," the paper added. Zinedine Zidane's Real, who also trail Atletico Madrid and Valencia, are fourth in the table and realistically must win this weekend to remain in the running for the Spanish title.

Ronaldo fitness worry ahead of Clasico

LaLiga, Spain&rsquo;s top division football league, is set to host a special match screening of one of the most anticipated matches of 2017 - El Clasico.

The game will broadcast live on December 23, when Real Madrid&nbsp;hosts FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernab&eacute;u.

Fans in India can watch the&nbsp;match in the presence of former FC Barcelona star and Italian football legend, Gianluca Zambrotta.

On joining fans at the El Clasico screening,&nbsp;Gianluca Zambrotta&nbsp;said,&nbsp;&ldquo;India has some of the most passionate fans I have ever seen. I&rsquo;m excited about joining them to watch the clash in one of my favourite cities, New Delhi. I expect 90 minutes of high-intensity football, considering both teams will do their best to enforce their supremacy&rdquo;.

For the first time ever&nbsp;has scheduled El Clasico at a prime time slot of 5.30 pm IST. The time preference has been kept in mind for India audiences. According to the LaLiga announcement release, the live screening of the match will take place at NSIC Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi on December 23, 2017.

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Gianluca Zambrotta to join fans at the screening in New Delhi. (Others)
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LaLiga India Country Manager Jose Cachaza&nbsp;said &ldquo;It is our pleasure to host a live screening of the 237th&nbsp;El Clasico for football fans in the capital. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona, along with the other LaLiga clubs, have huge fan bases in India and we are excited to offer them the LaLiga experience in a stadium-like atmosphere. El Clasico is the pageantry of football&rsquo;s biggest rivalry and we want fans in India to have a viewing experience that they can cherish all their lives.&rdquo;

For the first time ever, La Liga has scheduled an El Clasico at a prime-time slot of 5.30 pm IST

LaLiga, Spain’s top division football league, is set to host a special match screening of one of the most anticipated matches of 2017 - El Clasico. The game will broadcast live on December 23, when Real Madrid hosts FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu. Fans in India can watch the match in the presence of former FC Barcelona star and Italian football legend, Gianluca Zambrotta. On joining fans at the El Clasico screening, Gianluca Zambrotta said, “India has some of the most passionate fans I have ever seen. I’m excited about joining them to watch the clash in one of my favourite cities, New Delhi. I expect 90 minutes of high-intensity football, considering both teams will do their best to enforce their supremacy”. For the first time ever has scheduled El Clasico at a prime time slot of 5.30 pm IST. The time preference has been kept in mind for India audiences. According to the LaLiga announcement release, the live screening of the match will take place at NSIC Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi on December 23, 2017. Gianluca Zambrotta to join fans at the screening in New Delhi. (Others) × LaLiga India Country Manager Jose Cachaza said “It is our pleasure to host a live screening of the 237th El Clasico for football fans in the capital. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona, along with the other LaLiga clubs, have huge fan bases in India and we are excited to offer them the LaLiga experience in a stadium-like atmosphere. El Clasico is the pageantry of football’s biggest rivalry and we want fans in India to have a viewing experience that they can cherish all their lives.”

Ex-Italian footballer Gianluca Zambrotta to join fans at El Clasico screening in Delhi

Lionel Messi kept Barcelona&#39;s title hopes alive with two goals and an assist to see off Real Sociedad 3-2 as Spain&#39;s top two edged five-goal thrillers ahead of next weekend&#39;s El Clasico.

Earlier on Saturday, Isco struck at the death to keep Real Madrid three points clear and with a game in hand at the top of the table after twice coming from behind to beat Sporting Gijon 3-2.

Barcelona will need Messi on this form if they are to produce another miracle Champions League fightback against Juventus on Wednesday from a 3-0 first leg defeat suffered in midweek.

&quot;I am more than happy with the performance of the players and their ability to manage the frustration after what we experienced in the Champions League this week,&quot; Barca boss Luis Enrique told Spanish TV station Movistar.

The Argentine is now just two off his 500th Barca goal as he smashed home an effort from 25 yards to open the scoring.

Messi then took his tally to 45 goals in 44 games this season with a far less spectacular finish as he bundled home from close range after Geronimo Rulli had saved from Luis Suarez.

However, Barca passed up the chance to enjoy a comfortable evening in a three-goal spell in as many minutes just before half-time.

Firstly, Samuel Umtiti turned Inigo Martinez`s driven effort into his own net.

Paco Alcacer, deputising for the suspended Neymar, briefly restored Barca&#39;s two-goal lead with a composed finish from Messi&#39;s pass.

Yet, Sociedad scored again almost straight from kick-off as Xabi Prieto cushioned William Jose&#39;s cross into the bottom corner. Madrid can all but secure a first league title in five years with victory when they host Barca next weekend.

But not for the first time this season they needed a late show after Duje Cop and Mikel Vesga put Sporting in front early in both halves.

Isco&#39;s fine individual effort and a towering header from Alvaro Morata ensured neither lead lasted more than a few minutes. And Isco sealed the comeback when he drilled home from the edge of the box.

&quot;This is the spirit of Real Madrid,&quot; said Isco.

&quot;It is in the DNA of this shirt and this badge, we have shown it so many times and again today. Until the referee blows the full-time whistle it is not over.&quot;

The Spanish international is yet to agree a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of next season.

And Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he wants Isco to stay despite his lack of starts and interest from Barcelona.

&quot;You know what I think of Isco, he is a player I like a lot and his place is here.&quot;

Isco&#39;s late intervention bailed out his coach after Zidane made nine changes from the side that beat Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in midweek.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were left out of the squad entirely alongside the injured Gareth Bale, while Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Marcelo had to settle for a place on the bench.

&quot;I feel like I am unfair with those that don`t play,&quot; added Zidane.

&quot;There are 24 players that can play in all positions. It is the difficult part of this job.&quot;

Atletico Madrid warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Leicester City with a comfortable 3-0 win over rock bottom Osasuna despite missing two penalties in the same game for the second time this season.

Coach Diego Simeone also left out a number of his first-team regulars with top scorer Antoine Griezmann on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Yannick Carrasco`s low strike and back-post header put Atletico comfortably ahead either side of half-time.

Left-back Filipe Luis then added his third goal in five games.

However, Atletico&#39;s problems from the spot continued as they have now failed to score any of their last six penalties in La Liga.

Carrasco was denied his hat-trick by a fine save from Salvatore Sirigu before the Italian `keeper made an even better stop to deny Thomas Partey seconds later.

Victory takes Atletico four points clear of Sevilla in third.

(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

Lionel Messi kept Barcelona's title hopes alive with two goals and an assist to see off Real Sociedad 3-2

Lionel Messi kept Barcelona's title hopes alive with two goals and an assist to see off Real Sociedad 3-2 as Spain's top two edged five-goal thrillers ahead of next weekend's El Clasico. Earlier on Saturday, Isco struck at the death to keep Real Madrid three points clear and with a game in hand at the top of the table after twice coming from behind to beat Sporting Gijon 3-2. Barcelona will need Messi on this form if they are to produce another miracle Champions League fightback against Juventus on Wednesday from a 3-0 first leg defeat suffered in midweek. "I am more than happy with the performance of the players and their ability to manage the frustration after what we experienced in the Champions League this week," Barca boss Luis Enrique told Spanish TV station Movistar. The Argentine is now just two off his 500th Barca goal as he smashed home an effort from 25 yards to open the scoring. Messi then took his tally to 45 goals in 44 games this season with a far less spectacular finish as he bundled home from close range after Geronimo Rulli had saved from Luis Suarez. However, Barca passed up the chance to enjoy a comfortable evening in a three-goal spell in as many minutes just before half-time. Firstly, Samuel Umtiti turned Inigo Martinez`s driven effort into his own net. Paco Alcacer, deputising for the suspended Neymar, briefly restored Barca's two-goal lead with a composed finish from Messi's pass. Yet, Sociedad scored again almost straight from kick-off as Xabi Prieto cushioned William Jose's cross into the bottom corner. Madrid can all but secure a first league title in five years with victory when they host Barca next weekend. But not for the first time this season they needed a late show after Duje Cop and Mikel Vesga put Sporting in front early in both halves. Isco's fine individual effort and a towering header from Alvaro Morata ensured neither lead lasted more than a few minutes. And Isco sealed the comeback when he drilled home from the edge of the box. "This is the spirit of Real Madrid," said Isco. "It is in the DNA of this shirt and this badge, we have shown it so many times and again today. Until the referee blows the full-time whistle it is not over." The Spanish international is yet to agree a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of next season. And Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he wants Isco to stay despite his lack of starts and interest from Barcelona. "You know what I think of Isco, he is a player I like a lot and his place is here." Isco's late intervention bailed out his coach after Zidane made nine changes from the side that beat Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in midweek. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were left out of the squad entirely alongside the injured Gareth Bale, while Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Marcelo had to settle for a place on the bench. "I feel like I am unfair with those that don`t play," added Zidane. "There are 24 players that can play in all positions. It is the difficult part of this job." Atletico Madrid warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Leicester City with a comfortable 3-0 win over rock bottom Osasuna despite missing two penalties in the same game for the second time this season. Coach Diego Simeone also left out a number of his first-team regulars with top scorer Antoine Griezmann on the bench for the full 90 minutes. Yannick Carrasco`s low strike and back-post header put Atletico comfortably ahead either side of half-time. Left-back Filipe Luis then added his third goal in five games. However, Atletico's problems from the spot continued as they have now failed to score any of their last six penalties in La Liga. Carrasco was denied his hat-trick by a fine save from Salvatore Sirigu before the Italian `keeper made an even better stop to deny Thomas Partey seconds later. Victory takes Atletico four points clear of Sevilla in third. (AFP)

La Liga: Messi keeps Barca alive ahead of El Clasico

Sergio Ramos again proved Real Madrid&#39;s last-gasp hero by heading a 90th-minute equaliser to force a 1-1 draw at champions Barcelona and preserve his side&#39;s six-point lead at the top of La Liga on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane&#39;s team looked set to lose their 32-game unbeaten run in all competitions after Luis Suarez climbed highest to head in Neymar&#39;s free kick in the 53rd minute in a &#39;Clasico&#39; that failed to live up to its billing early on.

Neymar then curled a shot just over the bar after a breathtaking run into the box while Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi narrowly missed the target for the hosts.

Real captain Ramos earned a point that could prove decisive in the title race by powering in Luka Modric&#39;s free kick, just as he had done in the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.

&quot;We did everything we could to take the three points. We were the superior team but if you don&#39;t take your chances this is what happens,&quot; Suarez said.

&quot;We have to stay strong, keep going and hope Real drop points here and there. There&#39;s still a long way to go.&quot;

Barca coach Luis Enrique deployed the same team that he said produced the worst display in his tenure to draw 1-1 at Real Sociedad last week and they struggled to prise open an organised Real side.

Visiting winger Lucas Vazquez had a penalty appeal waved away in the third minute when he went down under a challenge from Javier Mascherano while Barca called for a spot kick at the other end when Sergi Roberto&rsquo;s shot was blocked by Raphael Varane.

Too much power&nbsp;

Suarez&#39;s header opened up the game and Barca went all out to try and kill off their rivals.

Neymar sliced open the Real defence but put too much power into his shot while substitute Iniesta shot into the side netting after magnificent play from the Brazilian.

Real took their time to offer a response but upped their pursuit of an equaliser as the game wound down. Ramos headed over the bar and Cristiano Ronaldo had an effort cleared off the line by Jordi Alba.

Just as Barca thought they had got away with it, however, Ramos had the final say.

&quot;We had more chances in the first half and lacked effectiveness but hard work is always rewarded and we still have a big advantage,&quot; said Ramos.

Real are top with 34 points from 14 matches while second-placed Barca have 28. Atletico Madrid can move to within a point of the champions when they host Espanyol later on Saturday.

Third-placed Sevilla missed the opportunity to take advantage of the &#39;Clasico&#39; draw as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Granada who recorded their first league win of the season.

(Reuters)

Real Madrid stay six points clear at the top of La Liga

Sergio Ramos again proved Real Madrid's last-gasp hero by heading a 90th-minute equaliser to force a 1-1 draw at champions Barcelona and preserve his side's six-point lead at the top of La Liga on Saturday. Zinedine Zidane's team looked set to lose their 32-game unbeaten run in all competitions after Luis Suarez climbed highest to head in Neymar's free kick in the 53rd minute in a 'Clasico' that failed to live up to its billing early on. Neymar then curled a shot just over the bar after a breathtaking run into the box while Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi narrowly missed the target for the hosts. Real captain Ramos earned a point that could prove decisive in the title race by powering in Luka Modric's free kick, just as he had done in the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. "We did everything we could to take the three points. We were the superior team but if you don't take your chances this is what happens," Suarez said. "We have to stay strong, keep going and hope Real drop points here and there. There's still a long way to go." Barca coach Luis Enrique deployed the same team that he said produced the worst display in his tenure to draw 1-1 at Real Sociedad last week and they struggled to prise open an organised Real side. Visiting winger Lucas Vazquez had a penalty appeal waved away in the third minute when he went down under a challenge from Javier Mascherano while Barca called for a spot kick at the other end when Sergi Roberto’s shot was blocked by Raphael Varane. Too much power Suarez's header opened up the game and Barca went all out to try and kill off their rivals. Neymar sliced open the Real defence but put too much power into his shot while substitute Iniesta shot into the side netting after magnificent play from the Brazilian. Real took their time to offer a response but upped their pursuit of an equaliser as the game wound down. Ramos headed over the bar and Cristiano Ronaldo had an effort cleared off the line by Jordi Alba. Just as Barca thought they had got away with it, however, Ramos had the final say. "We had more chances in the first half and lacked effectiveness but hard work is always rewarded and we still have a big advantage," said Ramos. Real are top with 34 points from 14 matches while second-placed Barca have 28. Atletico Madrid can move to within a point of the champions when they host Espanyol later on Saturday. Third-placed Sevilla missed the opportunity to take advantage of the 'Clasico' draw as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Granada who recorded their first league win of the season. (Reuters)

El Clasico: 90th minute Ramos header gives Real 1-1 draw at Barca

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