Real Madrid vs Barcelona Live Score and Commentary, El Clasico, La Liga 2016/17 (RM 1-2 FCB)

It was an insane game of football and it was a pleasure to bring you all the updates live from the Santiago Bernabeu. This is Shaurya Vineet signing off. In case of any queries, comments or feedback, feel free to get in touch with me on Twitter @ShauryaVineet.
Until next time. Adios and take care!

👑 #Messi500 #ElClásico #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/0kCqC6zt4f
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 23, 2017

There was a lot of talk in the pre-match build-up about whether Lionel Messi was on the decline and he has silenced his critics in style. He was off colour against Juventus and couldn't help his side overcome a 3-goal deficit but tonight, he did what was required. WHAT A PLAYER! Magical!

The game had everything. Controversies, red cards, insane goals and what not!
It all started with Casemiro opening the scoring for the home side before Lionel Messi - who else - waltzed his way past two Madrid defenders before slotting it into the bottom right corner. Rakitic then fired home a thunderbolt to give the away side a lead before Sergio Ramos was handed a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Messi.
A man down and a goal down, Zidane sent on James Rodriguez, who scored with probably his first touch of the game to bring the two sides on level terms. The game looked to be headed towards a draw and that would have spelled doom on Barcelona's title challenge but it is never over until Lionel Messi says so, and he did have the final say on the outcome. The diminutive Argentine scored with the last kick of the game to notch up his 500th goal for the Blaugrana.

Barcelona have won El Clasico and that has thrown the La Liga race wide open. Barcelona have leapfrogged Madrid into the top spot with that win, albeit having played a game more.

Messi's 500th goal for Barcelona has helped them bring back from dead into the game and the La Liga title race is back on and how.

FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona

Sergi Roberto makes a lung-bursting run and gets the better of Marcelo, he finds Andre Gomes who lays it off to the overlapping Alba. The full-back cuts it back for the onrushing Messi and the rest, as they say, is history!!! WHAT A GAME, WHAT A GOAL, WHAT A PLAYER!!!

He is booked for his celebration, as he takes off his shirt.

90+2' GOAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! Messi scores, that's his 500th goal for Barcelona.

Is there one last twist in store for us?

90' 2 minutes of added time only. Wow that is surprising.

89' Barcelona are swarming forward in numbers and are exposing themselves at the back. This allows Asensio to test Ter Stegen from a narrow-angle but the German saves.

Barcelona looked to be in control before they allowed Madrid to claw their way back into the game and now are on the ropes.

Is there another twist on the cards?

Kroos releases Marcelo down the left and the Brazilian looks up, spots the near post run of James Rodriguez and squares it for the Colombian to bundle home from point-blank range. Jame Rodriguez had just come on in place of Benzema and he has scored. This game has everything.

86' GOAALLLL!!! James scores! 2-2

5 minutes of regulation time plus stoppage time to go. Is there another twist on the cards?

83' Messi is afforded so much space in the middle that he can sit there and have a steak, the Argentine instead opts to dart towards the Madrid goal and hits a left-footed shot which draws an excellent save from Navas. How do you afford that much space to Messi?

81' Yellow Card: Mateo Kovacic is booked for bringing down Messi.

80' WHAT A SAVE/WHAT A MISS. Suarez and Gomes play a quick one-two on the left-hand side before the former squares the ball for Pique who is around 6 yards from goal. The Barca defender's left-footed shot is straight at the keeper. He should have buried it.

Ramos comes flying two-footed into the challenge on Lionel Messi and the referee has given him his marching orders. Madrid are a goal down and a man down. Is it all falling apart for the home side.

77' RED CARD: Sergio Ramos is sent off for a cynical foul on Messi.

Raktic gets the ball on the edge of the box, the Croatian wrong foots Kroos and takes a touch before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt into the far corner past a diving Navas - who was probably unsighted. WHAT A STRIKE!
Rakitic, who has been on the end of criticism for some poor performances, has put in a great performance today.

73' GOAAALLLL!!!! Rakitic fires home a thunderbolt! 2-1!

72' Asensio has space inside the box and the Spaniard takes a left-footed shot which is saved excellently by Ter Stegen.

Messi dropping deep has forced Rakitic to play as an auxiliary winger and that is working out just fine for Barcelona.

70' Substitution: Andre Gomes comes on to replace Paco Alcacer, who had another game to forget.

70' Substitution: Mateo Kovacic comes on to replace Casemiro - who was on a yellow.

68' And Suarez almost scores at the other end. Iniesta plays an over the top ball for the Uruguayan and Suarez connects with it on the volley but Navas makes an excellent point-blank save.

67' HOW DID RONALDO MISS THAT? Carvajal releases Asensio down the right and the Spaniard squares the ball into the feet of Ronaldo whose first-time shot is over the bar. There was a hint of offside and replays confirmed that Ronaldo was indeed off.

66' Kroos plays a hollywood pass to Asensio, switching wings, the Spaniard crosses the ball into the box and Ronaldo tries to connect with it with an overhead kick and it is wide.

63' Carvajal, high on adrenaline after that altercation, bursts down the right before playing a quick one-two with Modric, the Spaniard tries to waltz his way into the box but Umtiti is there to intercept and clear.

62' Suarez and Carvajal get tangled and the latter is not happy with it. The referee intervenes and parity is restored.

Barcelona are dominating possession once again, looking to make their way through the middle, while Madrid are happy to hang back and hit the visitors on the counter.

59' WHAT A SAVE! Barcelona have a corner and Rakitic swings it in, Pique jumps highest and connects with it, the ball is destined for the far corner but Navas makes an excellent save to deny the defender.

58' Messi threads an inch-perfect through ball to Suarez but the Uruguayan fails to control it and another chance goes begging.

57' Messi is fouled by Ramos some 40 yards from goal and Barcelona have a free-kick. Messi takes the free-kick but his shot sails over and Navas is unperturbed.

56' HOW DID HE MISS THAT? It is Paco Alcacer who should have buried it. Alba cuts the ball into the path of Rakitic who just nudges it on to Alcacer, the Spaniard takes a touch before hitting a tame shot straight at Navas.

That was a big big chance for the home side.

54' Kroos releases Marcelo into the box, the full-back squared to an unmarked Benzema whose shot from hardly a few yards out is saved by Ter Stegen. What a save and Barcelona have been let off.

Barcelona win a free-kick after Busquets is fouled, the Barcelona man dived to be honest and Sergio Ramos is livid. He needs to keep his temper in control or risk getting booked.

52' Ter Stegen is under pressure from Asensio after receiving a back pass and he is forced to clear it out.

50' YELLOW CARD: Karim Benzema is booked for a foul on Sergio Busquets. That was rather needless by the Frenchman.

48' Marcelo has the ball on the left and he finds Kroos in the middle. The German has been largely anonymous so far in the game but it was his moment and he connected with his left foot forcing Ter Stegen into a diving save.

47' Madrid have the first chance of the half as Asensio burst down the right before cutting in and laying it off for Carvajal, Pique is there to deal with the Spaniard's cross and Madrid have a corner.

46' Peep! And we are underway in the second half at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The player are out on the pitch and we are ready for the second half.

A lot of controversies in the first half, there was a hint of offside in Real Madrid's goal but replays confirmed Ramos was onside.

Stat Attack:

Leo Messi (15 goals) has gone past Alfredo di Stefano (14 goals), as the highest goal-scorer in El Clasico history (La Liga).

We will be back in 5 minutes with the second half.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Live Score and Commentary, El Clasico, La Liga 2016/17 (RM 1-2 FCB)

Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona (Red Card: Sergio Ramos)