5.59pm GMT
That’ll do from me today. Sid Lowe was at the Bernabéu for us and has filed this extensive report:
Related: Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona
5.58pm GMT
“We’re very happy with the win today, we did what we had to do – the gameplan,” Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni has said in the mixed zone. We have to go on like this, it’s only three points, we have other points to win and we have to step up.”
Dani Carvajal appeared to approach Lamine Yamal at full-time to make some sort of jibe after his pre-match comments about Real Madrid.
“I like that,” said Tchouameni. “At the end of hte game, we saw a little bit between the players – it helped us to compete.
“It’s fine, they’re only words, there’s no bad intentions. It made us a little bit more determined and helped us.
“If Lamine wants to talk, that’s no problem. The game is played on the pitch and we won. We’re very happy with our game and we’re going to look forward.”
5.43pm GMT
Marcus Rashford can be fairly pleased with his first clásico, result aside. He set up Fermín López for the equaliser and was a useful outlet for Barcelona when he was playing on the left, often looking their biggest threat. He had less joy through the middle for the last 20 minutes.
5.40pm GMT
Jude Bellingham scores a clásico winner for the third time, having hit late goals in both of the league fixtures in his first season at Real Madrid. He set up Mbappé’s opener here too. Maybe that’ll be enough for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
5.33pm GMT
Xabi Alonso’s game management was pretty spotless. The first hour of the game was wildly open and Real Madrid seemed to have numerical advantages all across the pitch. When there was a lull midway through the second half, his team took fewer risks and took the sting out of the game. A first major victory for him as Madrid boss and all the more important when you consider the 5-2 defeat to Atlético a few weeks ago.
5.27pm GMT
The Real Madrid players eventually realise they’ve won a football match and go off to celebrate with their fans. They seem to feel like they’ve proved a point. They’ve put an end to a four-game winning run for Barcelona in this fixture.
Updated at 5.30pm GMT
5.26pm GMT
Vinicius has to be restrained. Raphinha comes down from his seat in the stands to get involved. It’s all fun and games, really.
5.25pm GMT
Tempers flare again after the full-time whistle. It centres around Yamal and Vinicius, who returned to the Madrid bench after his tantrum at getting substituted.
5.23pm GMT
Full-time Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
It’s all over! Real Madrid go five points clear at the top of La Liga thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham in the first half. Fermín López had equalised for Barcelona and Wojciech Szczesny kept them in it with a penalty save from Mbappé in the second half.
5.21pm GMT
Red card for Pedri!
Pedri gets his second yellow card in as many minutes as he overruns it and crashes into Tchouameni. It all kicks off on the touchline between the two benches.
Updated at 5.33pm GMT
5.19pm GMT
90+9 min: Szczesny dives to save Rodrygo’s free-kick which was whipped to the goalkeeper’s side. Barcelona have the ball back … one final chance.
5.19pm GMT
90+8 min: Martín gives the ball away with his first involvement and Pedri is penalised for a trip on Camavinga. A perfect opportunity for Madrid to run down the clock. Rodrygo might have a shot at goal from the free-kick.
5.17pm GMT
90+7 min: Araújo fronts up Tchouameni in the Madrid box but he knocks it out of play with a heavy touch. Gerard Martín replaces Balde. Like for like at left-back.
5.16pm GMT
90+6 min: Bardghji finds Casadó inside the area but his shot is blocked by Tchouameni.
5.16pm GMT
90+5 min: Rodrygo almost settles it on the break. His shot is too close to Szczesny and Barcelona have the ball back.
5.15pm GMT
90+4 min: Pedri and De Jong dictate the tempo but Barcelona are struggling to create any real chances.
5.13pm GMT
90+2 min: Madrid have shut up shop. A win takes them five points clear at the top of La Liga. Carvajal takes a risk by bumping into Araújo in the box but nothing is given.
5.12pm GMT
Nine minutes added on, to grumbles around the Bernabéu.
5.11pm GMT
90 min: Alonso has done a good job in taking the sting out of the game. Mbappé and Bellingham trudge off as Gonzalo García and Dani Ceballos come on.
5.11pm GMT
89 min: Massive chance for Barcelona! Yamal spots Koundé running into the box and picks him out with a perfect ball. Koundé tries to chest it down in front of goal but it runs through to Courtois.
5.09pm GMT
88 min: Mbappé runs in behind Araújo and sends a shot that bobbles past the far post.
5.08pm GMT
87 min: Penelope Cruz enjoys her moment on the big screen while Camavinga gets back to his feet.
5.07pm GMT
86 min: Barcelona keep moving it side to side, being patient. Yamal takes the opportunity to do a couple of stretches. Camavinga goes down and is receiving treatment.
5.05pm GMT
84 min: Roony Bardghji replaces Cubarsí as Barcelona roll the dice a bit. Winger for a centre-back.
5.04pm GMT
83 min: Araújo has a go from about 40 yards. The shot is dragged well wide. You can’t fault the ambition.
5.03pm GMT
82 min: Mbappé and Rashford are now looking to escape in behind for their respective teams. Both have opportunities to do so but mistime their runs.
5.01pm GMT
80 min: Alonso is discouraging his players from pressing Barcelona up the field, preferring to let his team sit. Mbappé is the out ball and he and Tchouameni have shots blocked after a counterattack.
4.59pm GMT
78 min: Barcelona’s reshuffle has pushed De Jong into a more advanced position, with Fermín on the left and Rashford up top.
4.55pm GMT
75 min: Barcelona send on Casadó for Ferran and Araújo for García. Rashford appears to be leading the line.
Updated at 4.56pm GMT
4.54pm GMT
Pretty embarrassing stuff from Vinicius. Carvajal has now replaced Valverde too.
4.54pm GMT
73 min: Vinicius is not pleased at seeing his number come up. He effs and jeffs his way to the touchline and heads straight down the tunnel in a strop. Rodrygo is on in his place. Poker face from Alonso.
4.52pm GMT
71 min: Rashford’s corner is headed over by Koundé. Cubarsí lands awkwardly and grimaces with pain but he’s OK.
4.51pm GMT
70 min: Yamal combines with Koundé and Ferran on his way towards goal but enough Madrid defenders come across to stop him. The ball is out for a corner.
4.50pm GMT
69 min: Madrid have the ball in the net. Brahim runs into the box and squares it for Bellingham. The offside flag goes up straight away for the initial crossfield ball and VAR agrees.
4.49pm GMT
68 min: Yamal slips a wonderful pass in behind the Madrid defence with the outside of his boot but Courtois gets to it before Ferran.
4.48pm GMT
67 min: Bellingham finds Vinicius on the left of the area and the Brazilian’s curling shot flies wide. Bellingham then slips as he tries his luck from the edge of the D.
4.46pm GMT
66 min: Carvajal limbers up, only for the Madrid physio to give a thumbs-up from the pitch. Valverde will stay on but Guler is being replaced by Brahim Díaz.
4.45pm GMT
64 min: Yamal shoots high and wide from distance. Valverde is down and Dani Carvajal is getting stripped.
4.44pm GMT
63 min: Some slow buildup play from Barcelona ends with Eric García fancying his chances from distance. Tchouameni crunches into him, fairly, before he can get the shot away.
4.42pm GMT
61 min: Yamal is starting to pick up more central positions and is getting on the ball more as a result. The whistles are still coming from the home crowd when he’s in possession.
4.40pm GMT
59 min: Militão marauds forward and looks like a fish out of water as he reaches the Barcelona penalty area. His cutback to Vinicius is short and De Jong gets there first.
Updated at 4.40pm GMT
4.39pm GMT
58 min: Rashford clips the free-kick into the box and García can’t get on the end of it at the back post.
4.38pm GMT
This is so open. Szczesny’s penalty save has given Barcelona a shot in the arm. Now it’s Madrid’s turn to fly into a couple of tackles. Huijsen does just that and Rashford has a chance to shoot from a free-kick.
4.36pm GMT
55 min: Rashford has a pop at goal from distance but it’s blocked by Camavinga. Rashford then finds Balde in behind but his ball across goal evades everyone in a Barcelona shirt.
Updated at 4.37pm GMT
4.34pm GMT
53 min: Huge chance for Barcelona! Fermín drives through the middle of Madrid’s midfield and has Rashford to his left but decides to shoot himself – straight down Courtois’s throat!
4.33pm GMT
Szczesny saves Mbappé's penalty!
Mbappé goes to his left but it’s the right height for Szczesny to stick out a strong hand to tip it over the bar!
Updated at 4.44pm GMT
4.32pm GMT
Penalty to Real Madrid! García has his hands on his head as the referee points to the spot. Mbappé will take …
4.32pm GMT
The referee, Cesar Soto Grado, heads to the monitor … replays show that the ball ricochets off García and Bellingham, with the ball coming off García’s arm. It looks a complete accident.
4.30pm GMT
49 min: Rashford loses out to Camavinga on the edge of the Barcelona box and Bellingham rampages into the area, García smothering the ball out for a corner. Madrid want a penalty for handball from García as he slid the ball out of play.
4.29pm GMT
48 min: Vinicius tests Szczesny at his near post. Tchouameni heads the resulting corner over the bar. End to end again – didn’t take long.
4.28pm GMT
47 min: Rashford sets off down the left, comes inside and plays the ball to Fermín on the edge of the box. The Spaniard’s effort is tame and Courtois gathers. That was a good chance for Rashford to really go at the Madrid defence.
4.26pm GMT
Second half begins
The ball is rolling again as Ferran gets us back under way. No changes at the break. More of the same, please.
Updated at 4.26pm GMT
4.21pm GMT
“Not sure that Yamal can pull something out of nothing today,” writes Chris. “That injury is clearly hampering him, preventing him from those bursts of speed that characterize his best movement.”
The 18-year-old missed Spain’s October international fixtures because of a recurring groin injury. He’s played almost 150 senior games of football already in his career.
4.16pm GMT
Xabi Alonso has been bold with his setup – it seems to be a case of we’ll just score more goals than you with up to five attacking players on the field, plus the full-backs. Bellingham and Guler are finding so much space in the Barcelona half and De Jong and Pedri are struggling to cope.
Hansi Flick, or rather Marcus Sorg, has to find a solution at half-time because a 2-1 scoreline flatters them at this stage. Rashford and Yamal can produce something out of nothing but that’s not really a sensible approach.
4.10pm GMT
Half-time: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
Pretty breathless stuff at the Bernabéu. Jude Bellingham’s goal is the difference at the break after Fermín López had cancelled out Kylian Mbappé’s opener.
4.08pm GMT
45+5 min: Ferran swivels and shoots from the edge of the box but it’s easy for Courtois.
4.07pm GMT
45+4 min: Balde does well to deny Mbappé the chance to get a shot away after he was set up by Bellingham.
4.06pm GMT
A por ello, cry the home crowd – get after them! They smell blood before half-time.
4.05pm GMT
Six minute of stoppage time. Madrid seem to outnumber Barcelona every time when going forward.
4.03pm GMT
45 min: Vinicius leads De Jong a merry dance by the corner flag. He picks out Guler, whose ball over the top finds Bellingham. After Szczesny stops a prodded shot, Mbappé tucks in the rebound but the flag is up!
4.02pm GMT
Barcelona want a foul for Huijsen’s aerial challenge on Cubarsí when the ball was headed across goal but the referee and VAR say no.
4.01pm GMT
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona (Bellingham 43)
Madrid go back in front! Vinicius’s looping cross is headed back across goal by Militão and Bellingham has a simple tap-in.
Updated at 4.27pm GMT
3.59pm GMT
41 min: Barcelona go on the break with Pedri, whose ball back across the penalty area is headed out for a corner by Camavinga. Rashford’s corner is flicked goalwards by Fermín and Courtois makes a diving save!
3.57pm GMT
Unselfish from Rashford, who gets his 7th assist in 13 games for Barcelona. Fermín López follows up his hat-trick against Olympiakos with a goal here.
Updated at 3.58pm GMT
3.57pm GMT
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona (Fermín 38)
We’re level! Guler has his pocket picked by Pedri on the edge of his own box. Balde finds Rashford, who squares it for Fermín to convert. Courtois got a hand on it but not enough.
Updated at 3.58pm GMT
3.55pm GMT
37 min: Carreras picks out Bellingham but his shot is low and easy for Szczesny to gather.
3.52pm GMT
35 min: Szczesny is called into action at the other end as Vinicius cuts inside and bends one. Madrid take the corner quickly but it comes to nothing.
3.52pm GMT
33 min: Big chance for Barcelona! The ball falls to Ferran inside the area and his shot doesn’t have enough pace on it to beat Courtois, who dives down to his left to gather.
3.49pm GMT
31 min: Madrid win another corner after Mbappé threatens again. Rashford goes down holding his face but is soon up again to help defend.
3.48pm GMT
30 min: Another save from Szczesny! Huijsen gets on the end of a cross from deep and stretches to prod a shot on goal. The Barcelona keeper is there deny him.
3.47pm GMT
29 min: Bellingham wins a free-kick off García. Valverde takes it quickly to Mbappé, who spins Cubarsí and forces a save from Szczesny.
3.46pm GMT
28 min: The home crowd enjoy it as Vinicius goes in heavy on Yamal after a loose touch from the teenager. Barcelona’s front three have seen so little of the ball.
3.44pm GMT
26 min: Bellingham’s deflected shot wins a corner for Madrid. Valverde then smashes an effort over from the edge of the box with his left foot.
3.43pm GMT
25 min: Bellingham’s winning the battle of the Brits so far. His swivel past Pedri in midfield was good but the pass through to Mbappé was better. Rashford is yet to get into the game.
3.41pm GMT
There’s a nervous pause before the game resumes as VAR confirms Mbappé was indeed onside. Madrid lead!
3.40pm GMT
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (Mbappé 22)
Mbappé has the ball in the back of the net again! Bellingham turns Pedri and splits the Barcelona defence with a ball through to Mbappé, who slots past Szczesny.
Updated at 3.47pm GMT
3.39pm GMT
21 min: Yamal wants a free-kick as he tussles with Carreras on the touchline. Madrid are up in arms after a challenge from Ferran on Militão. Who’d want to referee this one?
3.37pm GMT
19 min: Guler, Bellingham and Camavinga are picking up advanced positions behind the front pairing of Mbappé and Vinicius, with Tchouameni sitting. It’s very attacking and very unpredictable. It could also be a problem for Alonso out of possession.
3.35pm GMT
17 min: Vinicius drives at Koundé down Madrid’s left but the Frenchman closes his legs just in time to stop the winger going past him.
3.34pm GMT
Mbappé was marginally offside as Guler prodded it away from Fermín.
3.32pm GMT
Goal ruled out! An offside in the buildup chalks off an unbelievable opener. Another lucky escape for Barcelona.
3.30pm GMT
12 min: What a strike from Mbappé! Fermín loses the ball inside his own half for Barcelona. It drops to Mbappé some 25 yards from goal, sits up nicely and he thwacks it past Szczesny into the back of the net! Golazo. The referee is checking for offside …
Updated at 3.31pm GMT
3.28pm GMT
Hansi Flick’s red card last weekend against Girona means he’s got a touchline ban today. His assistant Marcus Sorg is in the dugout.
3.27pm GMT
9 min: In trademark fashion, Yamal cuts inside on his left foot and curls a shot wide of the far post. Courtois was worried enough to dive to his right to see it on its way.
3.26pm GMT
8 min: It’s been a very open start to the game. Madrid have just settled into it after a very nervy opening minute or two.
3.24pm GMT
Contentious to say the least. It wasn’t obvious whether Vinicius kicked Yamal or the other way round. The referee changed his mind and gave it Barcelona’s way.
3.23pm GMT
Hang on, the referee is heading to the monitor. Yamal possibly gets the ball first. Decision reversed – no penalty! Free-kick to Barcelona instead.
Updated at 3.30pm GMT
3.21pm GMT
3 min: Penalty to Real Madrid! They counter from that corner and Bellingham plays the ball out to Vinícius. Yamal dangles his foot and catches the Brazilian and the referee points to the spot!
Updated at 3.21pm GMT
3.20pm GMT
2 min: Rashford has the first chance of the game as Huijsen gives the ball away in his defensive third. Rashford’s shot is blocked by Militão and out for a corner, which Courtois punches away.
3.18pm GMT
Kick-off
We’re under way! Whistles around the ground as Lamine Yamal is shown on the big screen for the first time.
3.13pm GMT
The teams are out at the Bernabéu. The roof is closed and it’s bound to be loud. Kick-off is a couple of minutes away.
3.05pm GMT
Another subplot of today’s game is the collapse of La Liga’s plans to play Barcelona’s away game at Villarreal in Miami in December.
La Liga have tried moving matches abroad before – five times, in fact, with four of them involving Barcelona.
Real Madrid have long been opposed to the idea and Thibaut Courtois spoke out against it before December’s move to Miami was binned.
Related: Thibaut Courtois says La Liga plan for match in Miami ‘distorts the competition’
Related: La Liga announces cancellation of Villarreal-Barcelona match’s move to Miami
Related: If Tebas had only listened he might have got his La Liga game abroad | Sid Lowe
2.59pm GMT
Last season’s clásicos produced 23 goals in total from four games – Barcelona won all four, including 4-0 at the Bernabéu in the league:
La LigaReal Madrid 0-4 BarcelonaBarcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
Copa del Rey (final)Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (after extra-time)
Supercopa (final)Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona
Strap in, then.
2.51pm GMT
There is major star power on both sides at the Bernabéu today in Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. Barcelona’s teenage sensation has been poking the bear a bit this week with comments on an online stream that Real Madrid “rob and complain”.
Xabi Alonso was asked about those comments in his pre-match press conference yesterday. “It’s an important match ... important enough,” he said. “It has many ingredients for us to play well, for us to enjoy it. And that’s what excites us the most, the biggest incentive for tomorrow.”
Then he was asked about them again: “No, I’m not going to get into that. There have been a lot of statements from people in Barcelona and I can’t comment on them all. For us, the important thing is the pitch, what happens on the pitch. Where we’ve come from and what lies ahead. That’s what concerns me most and what we’ve been working on.”
Then he was asked about them a third time: “Are we going back to that? What I have in my head is that it’s going to be an intense and competitive match. We have to be prepared because there will be moments for everything. The players have to have the necessary adrenaline. I’m not thinking about other consequences.”
2.43pm GMT
Sid has also been making the case for el clásico to still be the biggest game in club football and … well, it’s hard to argue with him.
2.40pm GMT
In Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, there is an Englishman apiece in the Real Madrid and Barcelona starting XIs – the first time that has happened in a clásico in La Liga, as Sid Lowe explains:
Related: Rashford v Bellingham: 123 years on, clásico gets another Battle of Britain
2.30pm GMT
Captain Fede Valverde continues at right-back for Real Madrid, while Trent Alexander-Arnold – out since mid-September with a hamstring injury – is fit enough for a place on the bench.
Arda Guler is given the nod by Xabi Alonso ahead of Rodrygo and Franco Mastantuono in those attacking positions behind Kylian Mbappé.
Updated at 3.00pm GMT
2.27pm GMT
Marcus Rashford is handed a start in his first clásico for Barcelona after scoring twice against Olympiakos in midweek.
Fermín López is also rewarded for his hat-trick in the Champions League with a place in the XI. Raphinha is not fit enough to make the bench.
Pau Cubarsí and Eric García are preferred to Ronald Araújo at centre-back.
Updated at 2.59pm GMT
2.24pm GMT
Starting lineups
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Militão, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler, Bellingham, Vinícius; Mbappé.Subs: Lunin, Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Mendy, Asencio, F García, Ceballos, Brahim, Mastantuono, Endrick, Rodrygo, G García.
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, García, Baldé; Pedri, De Jong; Lamine Yamal, López, Rashford, Torres.Subs: Kochen, Aller, Martín, Torrents, Araújo, D Fernández, Bernal, Casadó, Espart, Bardghji, T Fernández.
2.15pm GMT
Preamble
Hello and welcome. Hoy jugamos. Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the first time this season against a tense backdrop of political squabbles, player jibes and a failed attempt to move La Liga matches abroad. So, same as usual, eh?
The Santiago Bernabéu plays host to el clásico this afternoon, with the game kicking off at 4.15pm local time (3.15pm GMT). Xabi Alonso’s Madrid are top of the league, two points ahead of Hansi Flick’s defending champions in second. A home win today would have major ramifications for the title race.
There has been particular angst in the Spanish capital this week about La Liga’s failed efforts to take Villarreal v Barcelona to Miami in December, with Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois saying it would distort the competition. Lamine Yamal has stoked the flames a bit by telling the Twitch streamer Ibai Llanos that Real Madrid “rob and complain”. It’s sure to be feisty.
Team news is on the way. If you’ve got any skin in the game, feel free to send me an email with your thoughts as we go.