Barcelona vs Real Madrid Live score, El Clasico Live Streaming: Benzema and Vinicius have wreaked havoc thus far. (Reuters Photo)Barcelona vs Real Madrid Live score, El Clasico Live Streaming: The last fixture between these two super clubs resulted in a 5-1 hammering for Real Madrid and triggered Julen Lopetegui’s sacking. Madrid have since slumped further before seemingly pulling their act together in recent days.
Barcelona have been flying high largely thanks to talisman Lionel Messi’s impressive form but his participation in this fixture is under a question mark. Coach Ernesto Valverde said that the club would take a “last minute” call on whether to include Messi or not. It may be El Clasico, but it is only the first of three such matches that will be played between now and March 3, the last of which is a key clash in La Liga. Valverde would understandably be keen to preserve the health of his prized possession.
KICKOFF second half
No changes from both managers so the big Mr. M remains on the bench. How bad are Barca without him? This bad...
HALF TIME! Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid
In case you are watching this match for the first time, it is normally not this easy for teams visiting the Camp Nou. Barcelona have been woeful, Real have been slightly better. There have been quite a few miscued shots on both sides but Barcelona are guilty of not being able to hold on to the ball when they have it. It looks like they might need their no. 10 to provide the goods after all. Sergio Ramos has already been booked, which means that if Messi comes on, there is a high possibility of the Real Madrid captain getting sent off considering his penchant for giving the Argentine superstar foot-crunchers in these mega matches.
Final first half minutes
Vinicius puts the ball past Rakitic and Semedo with some ridiculous footwork. Semedo bodychecks him for that and gets a yellow card. Modric then does a double-foul on Arthur.
Malcom
His selection raised eyebrows but he has been Barca's best player going forward in this half. However, the inroads he has made has not led to a goal yet. Into the 40th minute and Real still lead 1-0.
Suarez shot...
...saved brilliantly by Navas. Malcom dribbles into the area and plays in Suarez who attempts a curler from outside the box. Navas sees it all the way and parries the danger.
Barcelona looking to step up
Malcom plays in Semedo and Navas comes off his line to push him wide. Semedo then blindly crosses and finds a white shirt. Rakitic then hits the crossbar with a header off Malcom's free kick. 31 mins gone.
20 mins
Malcom is played in by Suarez and is seemingly free on goal! His shot is a poor one and Navas saves it after which, the linesman's flag goes up for offside.
Barca bumbling
Rakitic dispossessed in midfield and Real go on the counter. Vinicius runs with the ball and takes the shot and it is charged down by Pique. A few minutes later, Coutinho gives the ball away cheaply and Benzema plays in Vinicius, the Brazilian youngster's miscued shot takes a deflection off Pique on the way out. 15 minutes have gone and Real are dominating a hapless Barcelona.
Yellow for Ramos!
Ramos with a cynical challenge on Semedo and the referee raises the yellow card for that. Ramos raises his hands in the universal gesture for, "What the hell, man?" 10 mins gone.
GOAL!
Real Madrid are ahead within the first five minutes! Vinicius Junior carries the ball down the left and his cross is controlled beautifully by Benzema. He cuts back with his second touch and Vazquez turns it in. 6 mins gone.
A SHOT!
Kroos takes a dig from 25 yards. Ter Stegen saves and Malcolm starts what could have been a dangerous counter from Barca but Suarez is stopped by the referee at the halfway line for a foul.
KICKOFF!
Real Madrid get the game going. Both sides are in their traditional colours. Most of the initial play is concentrated around the Real flank.
Teams in the middle
The two Sergios, Ramos and Busquets shake hands and their team mates follow suite. Kick off is imminent.
Warm-ups done
And players are making their way out of the tunnel. Barcelona fans vigorously shaking tiny plastic fans of their club in the stands. Good choice of material, considering global warming and all.
Players are out and about
They are doing their thing out in the middle with about half an hour to go before the match. Meanwhile, the two clubs have been tweeting their respective best El Clasico goals.
Messi out!
Barca go with the no Messi option. He is on the bench, though, but chances of him coming on as a saviour of sorts (he has done that before in this season) if things go bad for Barcelona is slim, considering this is only the first leg. If it goes terribly wrong and Real somehow pump a truckload of goals, Valverde might not bother playing Messi for the second leg too. Real also announced their squad, Bale is on the bench.
Hello and welcome!
Will Messi, or won't Messi? All eyes are on the home side ahead of the first leg of this big Copa Del Rey semi-final. Messi had received a knock during Barcelona's 2-2 draw in the Spanish league against Valencia. He has since been included in the squad but not the playing XI. Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari announced that he has a fully fit side to choose from.