Barcelona vs Real Madrid

1. 94'

   Muchas gracias for your company. Best wishes for Christmas and New Year to all our visitors, from everyone here at soccernet. Hasta luego!

2. 94'

   And that is it! The referee blows up a full minute early and Real have stolen the points! They now lead by seven at the top of La Liga. What a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in prospect for them. Frank Rikjaard will spend his winter break ruminating as to how long he has left to save his job - if he gets any at all!

3. 93'

   At the other end a Raul shot flicked up off Yaya Toure and Valdes had to back-peddle swiftly to stop it looping in for number two.

4. 92'

   Great tackle by Pepe! Milito bounded forward and played it to Inesta inside the area but before he could get his cross off Pepe was there to intercept.

5. 91'

   Barca's fans are filing out of their famous stadium. The game is all but up and it is going to be a long New Year break for Rijkaard and his players.

6. 90'

   That's the 90 up - four minutes have been added.

7. 89'

   Great ball in from Ronaldinho which Pepe gets a head to, then Toure's goal bound volley flicks behind off Cannavaro. Close but no cigar!

8. 88'

   Miguel Torres is on for Sergio Ramos.

9. 87'

   Eto'o edges past Ramos this time and his cross is cleared by Pepe. Now Iniesta wins a free-kick on the left wing.

10. 86'

    Five minutes left for Barcelona, and maybe five minutes left for Frank Rijkaard to save his job. What price Jose Mourinho being the new manager early in 2008?!

11. 85'

    Arjen Robben is on for Robinho, who has been excellent, save for the shameless diving.

12. 85'

    From the corner the ball breaks for Yaya Toure inside the box but his shot on the turn creeps just wide.

13. 84'

    Bojan injects some much needed urgency into Barcelona with a duck inside and a stinging shot which Casillas turns behind for a corner.

14. 83'

    Bojan Krkic is on for Xavi as Rijkaard plays his last hand.

15. 82'

    Ronaldinho is out of sorts and no mistake. He was one-on-one there with Ramos and made a complete hash of it. His mind looks elsewhere.

16. 81'

    Lovely turn from Iniesta who somewhat spoils his break by diving to the turf as soon as he could smell the white line of the penalty area.

17. 80'

    Substitution for Madrid. Fernando Gago is on for Wesley Sneijder.

18. 79'

    Barcelona are being crowded out in the final third now, Madrid are happy to play solely on the break. Iniesta tries to curl one from distance but Casillas is equal to it.

19. 78'

    The skipper's armband goes to Ronaldinho. Can that inspire him to find a goal?

20. 77'

    Zambrotta is coming on for Carlos Puyol.

21. 76'

    Schuster is winning the tactical battle hands down at present. Barca look short up top and light at the back.

22. 75'

    Barca are committing so many men forward Real are breaking at will - they four v two then but Sneijder overran the ball! Disaster!

23. 74'

    A quick free-kick finds Giovanni and he strikes a shot which is deflected behind for a corner.

24. 73'

    A miserable Christmas is looming for Frank Rijkaard unless his side can conjure something here. He may just find a P45 slipped inside his Xmas card from the President at this rate.

25. 72'

    Good work from Marquez releases Giovanni, he finds onaldinho but his shot is high and wide.

Leaders

BARRMA

Total Shots

Samuel Eto'o

4

Wesley Sneijder

4

Accurate Passes

Rafael Márquez

58

Mahamadou Diarra

44

Saves

Víctor Valdés

4

Iker Casillas

6