Barcelona v Real Madrid - Story of the match

03 December 2016 18:09

A last-gasp Sergio Ramos header secured a 1-1 draw for Real Madrid in the Clasico against Barcelona to maintain their six-point lead at the top of LaLiga.

The home side took a 53rd-minute lead thanks to a Luis Suarez header and had chances through Neymar and Lionel Messi to extend their advantage.

But Ramos punished them in the final moments to silence the Nou Camp and extend Real's unbeaten run to 33 games in all competitions. For all the hype it had been a low-quality match, and one which certainly now gives Madrid the edge in this season's title race.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

"Scrappy game at times, two cautious teams and two goals from set pieces. It was a so-so Clasico that eventually leaves the league still open" - Sky Sports Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague)

STAR MAN

Luka Modric

Andres Iniesta made a good case in his half-hour cameo for the honour of star man in a disappointing match, but the Croatian edged him. Neat and tidy in the first half, he then made the telling contribution with a perfectly flighted free-kick to find the head of Ramos in the dying seconds.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

With two points dropped, Barcelona will no doubt reflect on a rejected penalty claim at the end of the first half when Dani Carvajal appeared to block a cross from the left with his arm. Having said that, they only had themselves to blame for not winning after glaring misses from Neymar and Messi at 1-0 up.

DATA POINT OF THE MATCH

A win or draw against Borussia Dortmund in midweek will equal Real Madrid's all-time club record unbeaten run in all competitions, set in the 1988-89 season under Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker.

RATINGS

Barcelona

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen 6

Sergi Roberto 5

Gerard Pique 6

Javier Mascherano 6

Jordi Alba 7

Sergio Busquets 7

Andre Gomes 5

Ivan Rakitic 6

Lionel Messi 6

Neymar 6

Luis Suarez 7

Substitutes

Andres Iniesta (for Rakitic) 8

Arda Turan (for Gomes) 6

Denis Suarez (for Neymar) 5

Real Madrid

Keylor Navas 6

Dani Carvajal 6

Raphael Varane 7

Sergio Ramos 7

Marcelo 6

Luka Modric 8

Mateo Kovacic 5

Lucas Vazquez 7

Isco 6

Cristiano Ronaldo 6

Karim Benzema 6

Substitutes

Casemiro (for Isco) 7

Marco Asensio (for Benzema) 5

Mariano Diaz (for Kovacic) 5

WHO'S UP NEXT?

Barcelona v Borussia Monchengladbach (Champions League, December 6)

Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund (Champions League, December 7)

Source: PA