Real Madrid against Barcelona

And Madrid look like a side that feel sorry for themselves.

The ball did seem to touch Benzema's arm but it wasn't clear-cut. Raul is disappointed, to say the least.

Real Madrid have a goal disallowed, and it would have been a goal for the substitute Raul. A cross came in from the left and the ref has seen Benzema handball it in the build up, before the ball fell to Raul.

Real are losing their temperament here.

Clumsy, late and stupid from Garay. That was the tackle of a man frustrated with a poor Real performance.

Yellow card: Garay (Real Madrid)

Keita clatters into Benzema.

The ref is trying to keep order after Alonso fouls Iniesta.

Ramos fires in a cross from the right but it doesn't find its target, gathered by Valdes.

Barcelona sub: Marquez on for Milito

Real Madrid sub: Benzema on for Higuain

Barca's Milito is struggling with a calf injury and appears to be coming off.

Iniesta plays Messi in again, whose left-foot shot is saved by Cssillas, who must be exasperated with the defenders in front of him. That was truly awful defnding from Real. Messi was in far too much space there.

Real enjoy a good period of possession but Ronaldo loses the ball with a terrible pass into the box. Ronaldo's body language isn't very positive right now.

I can confirm that Pedro isn't dead, he was suffering with a back problem after a clash with Higuain and seems to be okay now.

Real Madrid sub: Raul on for Van Der Vaart

Pedro is down and isn't moving. I hope he isn't dead.

Messi comes close to grabbing his second. Xavi releases messi with another inch-perfect pass but Casillas gets just enough on Messi's shot to concede a corner.

The angle was against Ronaldo there but that goes down as more than a half chance.

Ronaldo comes close for Madrid. He sprints away from his marker down the left and, with no players in support, he hits a tame shot left footed straight at Valdes.

Messi is down after being fouled by Gago. He gingerly gets back to his feet, to the whistles of the home fans.

Puyol is fouled by his Spain team mate Sergio Ramos. No love is lost in El Clasico.

Unsuprisingly he does, but it's straight into the hands of Valdes.

Real win a free kick 25-or-so yards out and Ronaldo is the favourite to hit this.

Barcelona sub: Iniesta on for Maxwell

Just to confirm it was Cristiano Ronaldo who was booked after he appealed for Alves to be shown a second yellow card. Good to see refs clamping down on that.

Real Madrid sub: Guti on for Marcelo

But it hits the wall, but there's no way that wall was 10 yards out when the ball was struck.

Ronaldo is lining up the free kick...

Alves has tripped Ronaldo on the edge of the box and the ref has brandished a yellow card, although it's unclear to whom.

Van Der Vaart misses a glorious chance. He found himself one-on-one with Valdes after a beautiful pass from Guti but his shot wasn't far enough from the keeper, who smothers it. Big big miss.

But Real are bouncing back through Higuain, but he pulls his shot wide of the left post.

And that's a crucial goal for Barca. Xavi puts a perfect throughball to Pedro who takes a touch and passes it left-footed inside the left post. Lovely finish and that's a big blow for Madrid.

GOAL! 2-0 BARCELONA

Barca are controlling the play and everything is going through the brains of the team, Xavi.

Real attack with numbers but Ronaldo's low cross from the left is cut out by Puyol.

Marcelo comes close for Madrid. His left foot drive from just outside the box was heading for the top right corner, but Valdes catches the effort.

Messi wins a throw after the ball deflected off Albiol. The home fans do not like that decision.

Early chance for Real, but Ronaldo's ball from the left is just too long for Higuaín, and the chance is gone.

Barcelona kick off the second half, kicking from left to right.

Join me in 15 minutes for the second half.

So Barca lead 1-0 at half time, but it's been a half that's failed to live up to the hype. Scrappy at times and divided only by a well taken goal crafted by Xavi and scored by Messi in the 32nd minute.

But we won't have time for the corner to be taken, that's half time.

Casillas punches clear and the ball eventually drops to Xavi who shoots and the ball deflects out for another corner.

Barca force a corner on the left through Pedro.

Gago fouls Messi from behind on the halfway line. Barca free kick.

Barca win a corner which Casillas punches clear. Real Madrid counter attack with fantastic pace but the ball comes to Marcelo who can't find Ronaldo who is motoring down the left channel. If Marcelo had found Ronaldo he would have had a clear sight of goal. Poor from Marcelo.

The ball breaks to Higuaín who blazes over from 10 yards out under pressure from Puyol. Higuaín should have shown more composure to hit the target there.

Xavi and Messi link well again, but this time Messi is outnumbered as he tries to make space on the edge of the Real box.

Late tackle by Alves. These yellows are really adding up now.

Yellow card: Alves (Barcelona)

And again Alonso gets a chance from the corner. This time he does make contact but it's just over.

Ronaldo puts a dangerous cross in from the right and it's cleared for a corner by the covering Daniel Alves.

Alonso gets a free header from the corner but fails to make contact. That should have hit the target at the very least.

Marcelo looks for Ronaldo with a low cross but the ball is out for a corner.

And that goal comes slightly against the run of play after Real had put together the better of the chances so far. But there's no holding back Lionel Messi at the moment.

It's Messi, who else? Messi plays the ball to Xavi who chips it over the defence and back into Messi's path, who took it down with his left foot and shot past the onrushing Casillas with his right foot. Lovely finish. Game on.

GOAL! 1-0 BARCELONA

Xavi has been booked for his protests.

Yellow card: Xavi (Barcelona)

Xavi's free kick hits the wall, and appeared to be blocked by Xabi Alonso's arm.

Messi skipped past Albiol, who cynically tripped him. Free kick to Barca 25 yards out.

Yellow card: Albiol (Real Madrid)

But it's given away again by Barca, who have been uncharacteristically sloppy in possession.

And Barca can finally get the ball into Real's half after the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Ronaldo is limping, but I suspect he is just looking for sympathy.

Sublime flick by Ronaldo puts the ball into the path of Marcelo but his low cross from the left is miscontrolled by Van Der Vaart.

Keita diffuses a Real Madrid attack but they come forward again with Ronaldo who wastes a good chance to pass to Higuain.

Madrid have been the better of the two sides in attack so far, but neither side has quite got into their stride so far.

Marcelo weaves his way into a shooting position but elects to pass to Alonso on the right who shoots first time. The ball hits the side netting of the right side of the goal. Alonso could have crossed that into the box there.

Sergio Ramos attempts a 1-2 with Gago but the ball gets away from Ramos and goes out for a goal kick. But Madrid are attacking with pace and purpose.

Messi is cautioned for a deliberate handball, as he tried to bring the ball down with his arm. Silly yellow card to be given.

Yellow card: Messi (Barcelona)

Van der Vaart is penalised for catching Pedro with an elbow.

Ronaldo bursts into the box on the left after cutting inside Pique, he then very very optimistically looks for a penalty by stumbling over Pique's trailing leg. That was nowhere near a legitimate claim.

Misunderstanding between Maxwell and Busquets in midfield, resulting in Barcelona losing possession.

Alves blazes the free kick over. Nowhere near.

Stupid tackle by Gago on Xavi on the edge of the Real box. Chance for Barca from the free kick, no more than 25 yards out.

And this time we do have a yellow card. Alonso is penalised for a late tackle on Keita.

Yellow card: Alonso (Real Madrid)

I'm just hearing that Pique's yellow card does not stand as the assistant referee already had his flag up for offside.

Ronaldo lunges in on Pique. Free kick to Barcelona.

Alves puts a cross into Pedro but his cross is way too high.

Pique is carded for a deliberate handball as Higuain tried to play the ball in to Ronaldo. A number of players surround the referee as Barcelona feel Pique should have seen red. It was very deliberate.

Yellow card: Pique (Barcelona)

Good pressure by Higuain forces Pique to blast the ball out of play.

Alves, who is playing in attack tonight, is penalised for a foul.

Madrid start the game to a high intensity, Barca are being pinned back in the early stages.

Real Madrid kick us off in El Clasico.

We're approaching kick off at the Berbabeu in Madrid. 8 games to go in La Liga so this could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the league.

Real Madrid's home record this season: Played 15, Won 15, Drawn 0, Lost 0. Goals for: 50, Goal against: 13. Not bad.

Real Madrid are fielding a more conventional line-up tonight. Higuain and Ronaldo play up front for the home side tonight.

Guardiola's team selection for El Clasico is very unusual. He seems to be playing Daniel Alves as an attacker, on the right hand side, with Messi on the left and Pedro through the middle. I'm not quite sure what formation they are playing tonight. It may be a 4-2-3-1 formation with Busquets and Xavi in front of the back four. But I could be wrong.

Barcelona XI: Valdes; Pique, Milito, Puyol, Maxwell; Busquets; Alves, Xavi; Pedro, Messi, Keita.

Real Madrid XI: Casillas; Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa; Gago, Xabi Alonso; Ronaldo, Van der Vaart, Marcelo; Higuain. Substitutes: Dudek, Metzelder, L Diarra, M Diarra, Guti, Raul, Benzema.

Good evening ladies and gents. Real Madrid vs Barcelona, El Gran Clasico, maybe the biggest game in world football is half an hour from kick off.

Join us at 2100 BST to see Real Madrid play host to Barcelona in one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the year, the El Clasico.

Real Madrid sub: Raul on for Van Der Vaart

Pedro is down and isn't moving. I hope he isn't dead.

Messi comes close to grabbing his second. Xavi releases messi with another inch-perfect pass but Casillas gets just enough on Messi's shot to concede a corner.

The angle was against Ronaldo there but that goes down as more than a half chance.

Ronaldo comes close for Madrid. He sprints away from his marker down the left and, with no players in support, he hits a tame shot left footed straight at Valdes.

Messi is down after being fouled by Gago. He gingerly gets back to his feet, to the whistles of the home fans.

Puyol is fouled by his Spain team mate Sergio Ramos. No love is lost in El Clasico.

Unsuprisingly he does, but it's straight into the hands of Valdes.

Real win a free kick 25-or-so yards out and Ronaldo is the favourite to hit this.

Barcelona sub: Iniesta on for Maxwell

Just to confirm it was Cristiano Ronaldo who was booked after he appealed for Alves to be shown a second yellow card. Good to see refs clamping down on that.

Real Madrid sub: Guti on for Marcelo

But it hits the wall, but there's no way that wall was 10 yards out when the ball was struck.

Ronaldo is lining up the free kick...

Alves has tripped Ronaldo on the edge of the box and the ref has brandished a yellow card, although it's unclear to whom.

Van Der Vaart misses a glorious chance. He found himself one-on-one with Valdes after a beautiful pass from Guti but his shot wasn't far enough from the keeper, who smothers it. Big big miss.

But Real are bouncing back through Higuain, but he pulls his shot wide of the left post.

And that's a crucial goal for Barca. Xavi puts a perfect throughball to Pedro who takes a touch and passes it left-footed inside the left post. Lovely finish and that's a big blow for Madrid.

GOAL! 2-0 BARCELONA

Barca are controlling the play and everything is going through the brains of the team, Xavi.

Real attack with numbers but Ronaldo's low cross from the left is cut out by Puyol.

Marcelo comes close for Madrid. His left foot drive from just outside the box was heading for the top right corner, but Valdes catches the effort.

Messi wins a throw after the ball deflected off Albiol. The home fans do not like that decision.

Early chance for Real, but Ronaldo's ball from the left is just too long for Higuaín, and the chance is gone.

Barcelona kick off the second half, kicking from left to right.

Join me in 15 minutes for the second half.

So Barca lead 1-0 at half time, but it's been a half that's failed to live up to the hype. Scrappy at times and divided only by a well taken goal crafted by Xavi and scored by Messi in the 32nd minute.

But we won't have time for the corner to be taken, that's half time.

Casillas punches clear and the ball eventually drops to Xavi who shoots and the ball deflects out for another corner.

Barca force a corner on the left through Pedro.

Gago fouls Messi from behind on the halfway line. Barca free kick.

Barca win a corner which Casillas punches clear. Real Madrid counter attack with fantastic pace but the ball comes to Marcelo who can't find Ronaldo who is motoring down the left channel. If Marcelo had found Ronaldo he would have had a clear sight of goal. Poor from Marcelo.

The ball breaks to Higuaín who blazes over from 10 yards out under pressure from Puyol. Higuaín should have shown more composure to hit the target there.

Xavi and Messi link well again, but this time Messi is outnumbered as he tries to make space on the edge of the Real box.

Late tackle by Alves. These yellows are really adding up now.

Yellow card: Alves (Barcelona)

And again Alonso gets a chance from the corner. This time he does make contact but it's just over.

Ronaldo puts a dangerous cross in from the right and it's cleared for a corner by the covering Daniel Alves.

Alonso gets a free header from the corner but fails to make contact. That should have hit the target at the very least.

Marcelo looks for Ronaldo with a low cross but the ball is out for a corner.

And that goal comes slightly against the run of play after Real had put together the better of the chances so far. But there's no holding back Lionel Messi at the moment.

It's Messi, who else? Messi plays the ball to Xavi who chips it over the defence and back into Messi's path, who took it down with his left foot and shot past the onrushing Casillas with his right foot. Lovely finish. Game on.

GOAL! 1-0 BARCELONA

Xavi has been booked for his protests.

Yellow card: Xavi (Barcelona)

Xavi's free kick hits the wall, and appeared to be blocked by Xabi Alonso's arm.

Messi skipped past Albiol, who cynically tripped him. Free kick to Barca 25 yards out.

Yellow card: Albiol (Real Madrid)

But it's given away again by Barca, who have been uncharacteristically sloppy in possession.

And Barca can finally get the ball into Real's half after the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Ronaldo is limping, but I suspect he is just looking for sympathy.

Sublime flick by Ronaldo puts the ball into the path of Marcelo but his low cross from the left is miscontrolled by Van Der Vaart.

Keita diffuses a Real Madrid attack but they come forward again with Ronaldo who wastes a good chance to pass to Higuain.

Madrid have been the better of the two sides in attack so far, but neither side has quite got into their stride so far.

Marcelo weaves his way into a shooting position but elects to pass to Alonso on the right who shoots first time. The ball hits the side netting of the right side of the goal. Alonso could have crossed that into the box there.

Sergio Ramos attempts a 1-2 with Gago but the ball gets away from Ramos and goes out for a goal kick. But Madrid are attacking with pace and purpose.

Messi is cautioned for a deliberate handball, as he tried to bring the ball down with his arm. Silly yellow card to be given.

Yellow card: Messi (Barcelona)

Van der Vaart is penalised for catching Pedro with an elbow.

Ronaldo bursts into the box on the left after cutting inside Pique, he then very very optimistically looks for a penalty by stumbling over Pique's trailing leg. That was nowhere near a legitimate claim.

Misunderstanding between Maxwell and Busquets in midfield, resulting in Barcelona losing possession.

Alves blazes the free kick over. Nowhere near.

Stupid tackle by Gago on Xavi on the edge of the Real box. Chance for Barca from the free kick, no more than 25 yards out.

And this time we do have a yellow card. Alonso is penalised for a late tackle on Keita.

Yellow card: Alonso (Real Madrid)

I'm just hearing that Pique's yellow card does not stand as the assistant referee already had his flag up for offside.

Ronaldo lunges in on Pique. Free kick to Barcelona.

Alves puts a cross into Pedro but his cross is way too high.

Pique is carded for a deliberate handball as Higuain tried to play the ball in to Ronaldo. A number of players surround the referee as Barcelona feel Pique should have seen red. It was very deliberate.

Yellow card: Pique (Barcelona)

Good pressure by Higuain forces Pique to blast the ball out of play.

Alves, who is playing in attack tonight, is penalised for a foul.

Madrid start the game to a high intensity, Barca are being pinned back in the early stages.

Real Madrid kick us off in El Clasico.

We're approaching kick off at the Berbabeu in Madrid. 8 games to go in La Liga so this could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the league.

Real Madrid's home record this season: Played 15, Won 15, Drawn 0, Lost 0. Goals for: 50, Goal against: 13. Not bad.

Real Madrid are fielding a more conventional line-up tonight. Higuain and Ronaldo play up front for the home side tonight.

Guardiola's team selection for El Clasico is very unusual. He seems to be playing Daniel Alves as an attacker, on the right hand side, with Messi on the left and Pedro through the middle. I'm not quite sure what formation they are playing tonight. It may be a 4-2-3-1 formation with Busquets and Xavi in front of the back four. But I could be wrong.

Barcelona XI: Valdes; Pique, Milito, Puyol, Maxwell; Busquets; Alves, Xavi; Pedro, Messi, Keita.

Real Madrid XI: Casillas; Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa; Gago, Xabi Alonso; Ronaldo, Van der Vaart, Marcelo; Higuain. Substitutes: Dudek, Metzelder, L Diarra, M Diarra, Guti, Raul, Benzema.

Good evening ladies and gents. Real Madrid vs Barcelona, El Gran Clasico, maybe the biggest game in world football is half an hour from kick off.

Join us at 2100 BST to see Real Madrid play host to Barcelona in one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the year, the El Clasico.