Real Madrid vs Barcelona, El Clasico, live score: RMA 0-0 FCB

Real Madrid look to close the gap at the top of the La Liga standings as they host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first El Clasico of the league season. Los Blancos are 11 points behind the Catalan giants, having played a game less, and will look to pick all three points today. Follow live score of El Clasico clash between Real Madrid vs Barcelona, La Liga football, here. (PREVIEW)

6:12 PM IST: The first half is coming to a close and the deadlock doesn’t look likely to be broken at this point. Both teams have started the game cautiously, although Madrid have had the better chances.

6:09 PM IST: Barcelona put together a beautiful passing move but are denied once again when Navas saves Paulinho’s header.

6:05 PM IST: Real have looked the likelier side to score and once again come close. A quick break sees Ronaldo fire in a cross from the right side but the ball only goes out for a goal-kick after deflecting off Benzema.

6:02 PM IST: And now Ronaldo so nearly scores! A brilliant run on the left flank sees the forward get a shot away from a tight angle, which is well-saved by Ter Stegen. The resulting corner is once again wasted.

6:00 PM IST: Barca so nearly go ahead! Paulinho’s close range effort is well-saved by Keylor Navas. The ensuing corner, though, is essentially wasted by the away side.

5:58 PM IST: Things are beginning to heat up a bit here, and Real skipper Sergio Ramos is getting stuck in now. Barcelona need to do more with the ball though.

5:55 PM IST: It’s worth noting that a draw would be an ideal result for Barcelona. They haven’t really looked to force the issue as much they usually do; maybe Valverde is happy settling for a point? We shall know soon enough.

5:52 PM IST: The issue with playing only Ronaldo and Benzema as attackers is that the onus to create falls solely on the latter. This is where starting with Bale or Isco alongside those two would have been more useful, as the hosts aren’t creating too many chances at the moment.

5:49 PM IST: And the game sees its first booking: Thomas Vermaelen shown a yellow for a foul on Luka Modric. Free-kick in a good position for Real... which ends up coming to absolutely nothing. Still 0-0 at the Bernabeu.

5:48 PM IST: Barcelona yet to dominate possession as they’re wont to, which has affected their game plan somewhat. Messi, Suarez and co. yet to really grow into the game.

5:46 PM IST: The game started quickly but has now settled down a bit. Real seem to lack that extra spark of creativity going forward. The sooner Bale or Isco comes on, the better for them.

5:43 PM IST: Real looking likelier to score at this point. Ronaldo has been in the thick of all the action.

5:41 PM IST: The visitors growing into the game now: the short, crisp passes have begun to flow. Real’s stacked midfield need to do more to prevent Barca from enjoying long periods of dominance in the middle of the park.

5:39 PM IST: Barcelona starting to dictate the pace now. They would prefer the game to be played at a slower tempo so that they can pass the ball around in midfield.

5:36 PM IST: Real have started stronger here. Barcelona need to see out this early bit of dominance from the home side.

5:33 PM IST: Gooooaaa... no sir, he’s been flagged offside! Ronaldo heads home from close range after a corner but the linesman raises his flag.

5:30 PM IST: The referee has blown his whistle and we are underway here!

5:27 PM IST: Players have emerged from the tunnel. Kick-off now only moments away.

5:20 PM IST: Kick off isn’t too far off now. Lionel Messi has recorded a massive 13 assists in previous El Clasico fixtures. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has only made 1 assist. The Portuguese forward definitely prefers scoring!

5:16 PM IST: Even if Barcelona lose today, they will still have an eight-point gap over Real Madrid. However, a 14-point gap awaits the Catalan giants if they register a win.

5:11 PM IST: Lionel Messi has 27 La Liga hat-tricks. The only man with more hat-tricks than him? Cristiano Ronaldo, of course... the Madrid man has scored 32. Will these men add to their impressive goal tallies? We shall find out soon enough.

5:05 PM IST: We are now minutes away from kick-off of one of the biggest fixtures in La Liga. A lot rides on this fixture, not least of which is bragging rights.

4:56 PM IST: Given that Real Madrid are starting with 4 midfielders today, the plan seems to be to ensure Barcelona have no space to work with in midfield. But a lot will depend on Benzema and Ronaldo, who will have to be their usual lethal selves on the counter-attack whenever the home side are able to break with pace.

4:50 PM IST: Here’s a stat Barca fans will enjoy reading: Barcelona have not lost any of their 15 La Liga games when Thomas Vermaelen has started (W12 D3).

4:45 PM IST: Real’s home record this season doesn’t make for great reading: they have 5 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws in eight home games. A Clasico win might just be what the doctor ordered as far as their home La Liga form is concerned.

4:40 PM IST: Lionel Messi is the most prolific player in El Clasico history, with 24 goals in all competitions from just 36 appearances. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is only one strike shy of Alfredo Di Stefano’s club record of 18 against Barca. Will these once-in-a-lifetime talents add to their goal tallies? Kick-off isn’t too far away now.

4:29 PM IST: Here’s how Madrid line up. Isco starts on the bench, interestingly enough:

📝🏃 #RMClasico
¡Once titular del #RealMadrid para el CLÁSICO!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/e6BhyGGsFM

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 23, 2017

4:25 PM IST: Here’s how Barcelona line up ahead of the season’s first Clasico, It will be interesting to see how Sergei Roberto, a midfielder by trade, fares at right-back:

Barça XI
⚽️ #ElClasico
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/bEgxxGsRIU

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 23, 2017

4:20 PM IST: A win for Barcelona, however, will see the Catalan giants open up a 14-point lead over their rivals at the top of the table.

4:11 PM IST: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo renew world football’s greatest individual battle when they meet in the mouth-watering El Clasico. Barcelona have the benefit of a healthy lead in LaLiga and know a win at the Santiago Bernabeu would be a major blow to Real Madrid’s title hopes.

This is the first time that an El Clasico will kick off at lunchtime as La Liga seeks more attention from Asian viewers. Play starts at 5: 30 PM IST.

And the worldwide audience could be treated to the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale together for the first time this season.

Bale’s injury problems have meant that the trio hasn’t played a single minute together this season.

Barcelona, on the other hand, lost the Spanish Super Cup 5-1 on aggregate to Real earlier this season, but have improved significantly since then.

The Catalans are yet to lose a game in the La Liga this season, and will aim to continue their unbeaten run in what is expected to be a hostile reception at the Bernabeu following the recent election in Catalonia, which saw three pro-independence parties retain an absolute majority in the Catalan parliament.

(With inputs from Omnisport)