Good morning! It's an early start to the huge football action for us today, and what a Christmas cracker of a game to get us started!

It is arguably the biggest match in club football as Real Madrid and Barcelona do battle in El Clasico for the final time this calendar year - and what a game it promises to be. These contests very rarely disappoint, and we're expecting another memorable encounter today with plenty riding on the result.

We have a bumper two-hour build-up for the game, so let's waste no time in getting started with a look at the home side...

The outlook for Madrid this afternoon is quite simple - they simply must win to stand a realistic chance of catching Barcelona in the title race.

Even victory would leave the defending champions with a difficult task having seen the gap grow to 11 points during their time at the Club World Cup, but victory today - in addition to a win in their game in hand - could see that close to five - a much more manageable deficit to make up for Zinedine Zidane's side.

As things stand, though, it has been a pretty miserable title defence for Real Madrid, who have had to play second fiddle to Barcelona on the domestic front far too often for their own liking.

Los Blancos come into this match sitting fourth in the Liga table, and they cannot even blame their recent absence at the Club World Cup for that. Madrid do have a game in hand because of that, but they are still three points behind Valencia in third and five adrift of Atletico Madrid so, even with victory in that game in hand, they have some catching up to do if they are to finish in the top two yet alone catch Barcelona.

Unusually for a team like Madrid, they have only the fourth-best attacking record in La Liga this season, scoring 30 goals from their 15 games which is 12 fewer than Barcelona have managed.

That is down largely to Cristiano Ronaldo's uncharacteristic struggles in front of goal domestically this term, while the likes of Karim Benzema and the injury-prone Gareth Bale have not exactly shared the goalscoring burden amongst that famous front three.

There aren't many problems at the opposite end of the field with only 11 goals conceded, although that is still four more than both Barca and Atletico Madrid.

EL CLASICO FLASHBACKS: Throughout the build-up we will be looking back at some memorable moments from this fixture in recent years, and we'll start with one of the most iconic in modern El Clasico history.

Lionel Messi's 93rd-minute winner - his 500th goal for Barcelona - blew the title race wide open on Barca's most recent league visit to the Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane has faced questions over his position at times this season, which seems ludicrous for a manager who has won so much in such a short space of time - including back-to-back Champions League titles.

However, Madrid demand a very high and consistent standard which Zidane has been unable to reach so far this season. In addition to the sizeable gap separating them from Barcelona in La Liga, Madrid also failed to top their Champions League group and face a very serious threat to their European crown when they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.

As it stands, though, Madrid remain the Spanish, European and world champions at club level, having retained their Club World Cup title in Abu Dhabi last week - the first team to ever lift the trophy in consecutive seasons.

A 1-0 victory over Copa Libertadores champions Gremio, courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo goal - was enough to steer Madrid to victory, which also saw them equal Barcelona as the most successful club in the competition's history with three titles.

Even so, if you asked Real Madrid fans if they would rather win the Club World Cup or win today, I'm sure the majority of them would choose this match to come out on top.

Madrid are unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions stretching back to that Champions League defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in early November, winning each of their last four outings.

Another victory today would see Zidane's side string together five consecutive wins for the first time this season, which goes to show that they have been far more inconsistent this term than they usually are. Five wins on the bounce is a fairly common run of form for a club like Madrid, so to have not achieved it since April constitutes a poor return for Zidane's side.

EL CLASICO MEMORIES: There have been some truly memorable Clasico contests in 2017, and this meeting in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup is among the best of the lot.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the pick of the bunch in Madrid's 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou, although he was sent off just two minutes later. That didn't stop Madrid going on to extend their lead, though, with Asensio scoring a golazo of his own to cap it off.

Madrid's participation in the Club World Cup means that they were not in La Liga action last weekend, but they did thrash fellow top-four contenders Sevilla 5-0 in their most recent top-flight outing, making it five games unbeaten in the league and four clean sheets in that time.

However, that statistic is relatively misleading as Madrid have 'only' won half of their last six games, which may not be a problem for many teams but when chasing Barcelona it most certainly is. Indeed, Madrid have dropped more points from their last six La Liga outings than Barcelona have all season so far.

Madrid have not won back-to-back La Liga games since October, but here at the Bernabeu they are on a run of five consecutive victories, scoring 16 goals and keeping four clean sheets in the process.

Such a run is usually taken for granted for Madrid, but considering they failed to win any of their opening three home games of the season - drawing two and losing one - it is a major improvement in form. Indeed, Madrid had won four, drawn four and lost two of their previous 10 home games before this current run, and now they are on the verge of winning six on the bounce for the first time since February.

Across all competitions Madrid are now unbeaten in eight, winning six of those and scoring 19 in the past six, so they do come into this match in fairly formidable form in front of their own fans.

Indeed, Real Betis are the only visiting team to have won here since Barcelona's last league visit, with Madrid having won 12 and drawn four of the 17 Bernabeu outings since.

EL CLASICO MEMORIES: Having beaten Barcelona 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup first leg, Real Madrid went into the second leg looking to hold off the challenge of their fierce rivals on home soil.

As it was, they did even better than that, with Marco Asensio once again getting on the scoresheet with a stunning strike to help Los Blancos to a 2-0 win on the night and a 5-1 triumph on aggregate.

At that stage of the season things looked pretty bleak for Barcelona and new manager Ernesto Valverde, even to the point where the board was challenged following a tumultuous summer.

A change of manager was the least of Barca's worries in the end as they suffered the ignominy of losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and then failed to bring in Philippe Coutinho as his replacement, despite their best efforts. As if those off-field issues were worrying enough for Barca fans, they then lost home and away to Madrid in their opening two matches of the season, plunging the club into a mini-crisis.

You would have been offered long odds for Barcelona to be where they are now following that start to the season, with Valverde managing to turn the ship around and take a firm grip on the Liga title race.

I have already mentioned the 11-point deficit for Madrid to make up, but from Barcelona's point of view today is a superb opportunity to all but end the title hopes of their biggest rivals. Even a draw would be a good result for the visitors this afternoon, but victory would open up a 14-point advantage which would surely be too much of an ask to chase down for Los Blancos.

There are still plenty of points on offer, of course, but it is hard to see Barca dropping that many - while Madrid stay perfect - over the second half of the season considering they have only dropped six points all season so far.

Barca's main title rivals right now are not Real Madrid, but rather their capital neighbours Atletico Madrid, who currently sit second in the table but still six points adrift of the leaders.

Victory today would open up a nine-point gap temporarily at least, whilst also extending their unbeaten start to the season. Barca are one of only two remaining unbeaten teams across Europe's top five leagues, although one of the others is also Atletico Madrid so Valverde's side are not even the only unbeaten team in La Liga.

EL CLASICO MEMORIES: The reverse fixture between these two sides last season saw yet more late drama as Sergio Ramos popped up in the 90th minute to rescue a point at the Camp Nou after Luis Suarez had earlier given Barcelona the lead.

It proved to be an important point in the title race for Madrid as they held off the challenge of Barca, despite failing to win either of their head-to-head meetings.

Barcelona are not just unbeaten in La Liga this season, but also across all competitions since those Super Cup defeats at the hands of Real Madrid in August.

Madrid could take some solace from the fact that they are the only team to have beaten Barca this season, then, but today's visitors seem to be a much more impressive outfit now than they were in August.

The Blaugrana come into this match having not lost any of their last 24 outings across all competitions, winning 19 of those including each of their last three without conceding a goal.

That run includes the Champions League, of course, where Barcelona remained unbeaten and finished top of a group which also contained Juventus.

Valverde's side have been handed a difficult last-16 tie against Premier League champions Chelsea, but many will make them third-favourites behind Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City to win the trophy this season. Barca certainly have the greater experience than the two frontrunners, but they are two teams who look like very real threats to the established elite of European football.

Barcelona have been good going forward and at the back across all competitions this season, scoring a league-high 42 goals domestically while conceding only seven - the joint-best defensive record in Europe's top five leagues alongside Atletico Madrid.

Indeed, Barca have kept 17 clean sheets from their 24 outings so far this season, conceding only eight goals in that time while scoring 59 at the other end. Barca do not have a reputation as a particularly sturdy defensive outfit, but the stats say different so far this season.

EL CLASICO MEMORIES: Time for one more memory before we bring you the team news for today's game, although it is one Real Madrid would want to forget.

Barca came to the Bernabeu two years ago and pulled off a stunning 4-0 win despite Lionel Messi only starting on the bench. Suarez scored twice, with Neymar and Iniesta also getting on the scoresheet in a sensational performance from Luis Enrique's side.

TEAM NEWS: Right, time for some team news! Plenty of big hitters on show this afternoon!

REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Kovacic; Ronaldo, Benzema
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Theo, Lucas, Asensio, Isco

BARCELONA STARTING XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Paulinho; Messi, Suarez
Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, D Suarez, Mascherano, Digne, Andre Gomes, Vidal

What can make of those two teams, then?

Well the headline news is that Cristiano Ronaldo is passed fit for the game as expected, overcoming a slight calf injury sustained during the Club World Cup to feature.

Whether the Madrid talisman will be at 100% fitness or not remains to be seen, but it was always likely to take a lot more than only a minor calf problem to keep Ronaldo out of this one.

Ronaldo was once again awarded the Ballon d'Or ahead of his perennial rival Lionel Messi this year, taking his tally for the prestigious prize to five - now level with Messi.

Despite that, Ronaldo's own form this season has been relatively underwhelming, particularly in La Liga. The striker has shown signs of returning to something approaching his best in recent weeks, though, having scored in each of his last four appearances across all competitions - including the winner in the Club World Cup final to extend his lead as that competition's highest-ever goalscorer.

Zinedine Zidane has made only one change from the side that picked up that victory over Gremio in Abu Dhabi, with Isco being replaced by Mateo Kovacic in that starting lineup.

Ronaldo is joined up front by Karim Benzema, but the likes of Gareth Bale - who is still returning to full fitness - and Marco Asensio have to do with a place alongside Isco on the bench this afternoon. All three of those players have the ability to come on and change the game should Madrid need it at any point this afternoon.

There are no fewer than five changes from Madrid's last La Liga outing, despite Los Blancos picking up a commanding 5-0 win over Sevilla on that occasion.

Sergio Ramos and Casemiro both return from suspension domestically to come back into the side, while Carvajal, Varane, Kovacic also come back into the side as Hakimi, Vallejo, Nacho, Vazquez and Asensio all drop out.

Barcelona have only made one change to the side that thrashed Deportivo La Coruna last time out, with Sergio Busquets returning in midfield as expected and Paco Alcacer dropping out of the starting lineup.

Aside from that, though, Ernesto Valverde has kept faith with the same starting lineup which means another outing for Thomas Vermaelen, who has really stepped up to the plate in the absence of the injured Samuel Umtiti. Vermaelen had been a forgotten man before that, but he has impressed in recent weeks and continued to keep Javier Mascherano out of the team now.

Most eyes will be on the battle between Ronaldo and Messi again today, though, particularly after Messi missed out on the Ballon d'Or again. The Argentine can feel hard done by considering his magnificent performances so far this season for club and country, and he would love nothing better than to drive the final nail into Real Madrid's title hopes today.

Messi has been the scourge of Madrid down the years, scoring more Clasico goals than any other player in the fixtures long history, and he will be confident of adding to that total again here.

It was Luis Suarez and Paulinho who were on the scoresheet with a brace each against Deportivo last time out, though, and both start again this afternoon as expected.

Suarez has been nowhere near his best for large chunks of the season yet still has nine La Liga goals to his name, whereas Paulinho has proven to be an important acquisition. The decision to sign the Brazilian from the Chinese Super League was questioned by plenty of people during the summer, but he has since scored six La Liga goals and established himself as an important part of Valverde's set-up at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona are also able to include Jordi Alba after he missed training earlier in the week, making it an unchanged back four for the visitors this afternoon.

The veteran Andres Iniesta once again starts in the middle of the park and should bring plenty of guile and creativity to midfield as Barca attempt to break through the Madrid defence, although he is not expected to play the full 90 minutes this afternoon.

EL CLASICO MEMORIES: Real Madrid's most recent league victory over Barcelona at the Bernabeu came more then three years ago now, and even then they needed to come from behind.

Neymar opened the scoring early on for Barca, but goals from Ronaldo, Pepe and Benzema ensured that Madrid earned the Clasico bragging rights - a rarity at the Bernabeu in recent years.

Barcelona's lead at the top of the table extended to six points last weekend courtesy of Valencia's surprise defeat at the hands of Eibar, with Barcelona taking full advantage by thrashing Deportivo 4-0.

That victory made it 23 La Liga games unbeaten for the Blaugrana, during which time they have won 20 games and drawn just three. Two of those draws have come in their last four outings - and all three have been this season - but those are Barca's only dropped points all term and they come into this match in winning form with back-to-back triumphs and clean sheets over Villarreal and Deportivo.

Away from home Barcelona are unbeaten in 12 games, although their most recent defeat did come here at the Bernabeu during the Super Cup second leg.

Barca have won eight and drawn four of those 12 games since then, although three of their draws have come in their last five away games and they have not managed back-to-back wins on the road since October - something which they could achieve today.

Barcelona have the best points-per-game away average in La Liga this season, winning six and drawing two of their eight outings on the road and conceding the fewest goals in the process (3).

Unusually Barca have scored fewer than Atletico and Valencia on their travels so far this term, although they are still unbeaten in their la 11 La Liga away games stretching back to April, when they were beaten 2-0 by Malaga.

EL CLASICO MEMORIES: Perhaps the most memorable La Liga Clasico of recent years came here at the Bernabeu in March 2014, when both teams squandered leads before Barcelona ran out 4-3 winners in a thriller.

Messi scored a hat-trick - including two penalties - with Iniesta, Benzema and Ronaldo also on the scoresheet in a classic Clasico which also saw Sergio Ramos shown a straight red card.

That Messi hat-trick seems like a good time to look at the record between Messi and Ronaldo ahead of this match, particularly in these biggest of games.

Ronaldo may have levelled things with Messi on the Ballon d'Or front this year, but he remains some way behind in the Clasico stakes. Ronaldo is the third-highest scorer in Clasicos with 17 - just one behind fellow Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano - but he is still seven goals behind Messi, whose tally of 24 is by far the best in the history of this fixture.

Messi's dominance of this fixture continues when you include assists, with the Argentine setting up a further 13 goals for teammates in Clasicos, meaning that he has directly contributed to 37 goals in his 36 appearances in this fixture. Ronaldo, but contrast, has only one assist to his name in this fixture, so he has directly contributed to 'just' 18 goals in his 28 Clasicos.

Messi also boasts a superior win percentage in Clasicos (44.4% compared to Ronaldo's 28.5%), and this season the Argentine has been in better goalscoring form too, netting 18 times in 24 appearances across all competitions, including 14 in just 16 La Liga outings. Ronaldo has 16 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions, but just four of those have come in 11 La Liga outings.

Looking even further back to Ronaldo's arrival at the Bernabeu, Messi comes out on top once again. The Argentine has scored 309 goals, contributed 137 assists and won five titles since Ronaldo joined Los Blancos, whereas the Portuguese star has scored 289 goals, registered 92 assists and won two titles from 276 outings.

Both of those are, of course, phenomenal records, but Messi just about pips his perennial rivals in those particular stats.

Today's match is, of course, bigger than just Ronaldo vs. Messi, though, and it ios actually bigger than Real Madrid vs. Barcelona too.

Rarely in recent memory has this fixture been played among such politically unstable times in Spain, with Catalonia's fight for independence turning into a bitter struggle in recent months. Real Madrid very much represent the royal establishment and exactly what Catalonia is trying to separate itself from, with Barcelona the pre-eminent Catalan flagship.

PREDICTION: Right, it's nearly time for kickoff at the Bernabeu for this blockbuster, so let's have a prediction!

This one is a tough one to call. Real Madrid need to go for the win, which should hopefully result in another open game full of action, goals and drama. I am certainly backing goals, but Barca are more than capable of exploiting any gung-ho attitude from Real Madrid. I'll sit on the fence with a score draw.

SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona

There has not been a goalless draw in this fixture since 2002, and Barcelona have managed to find the back of the net on each of their last nine league visits to the Bernabeu, scoring seven goals on their past two trips here.

The last time Barca failed to score in a Clasico actually came exactly a decade ago today, when Julio Baptista scored the only goal of the game as Madrid ran out 1-0 winners.

The players are out and just about ready to get started now, so let's have a quick reminder of the team news for this final Clasico of 2017!

REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Kovacic; Ronaldo, Benzema

BARCELONA STARTING XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Paulinho; Messi, Suarez

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Barcelona get us underway against Real Madrid!

DISALLOWED GOAL! Madrid think that they have taken the lead after less than two minutes as an early corner is flicked on by Casemiro before being nodded in off the underside of the crossbar by Ronaldo, but the Portuguese star was marginally offside.

Real Madrid have very much started this match on the front foot. They have pinned Barcelona back in the opening exchanges, with Ronaldo already heavily involved.

SAVE! The first save of the game comes from Ter Stegen, but it is a simple one for the Barcelona keeper. Carvajal tried his luck from range, but it was a tame striker straight at Ter Stegen.

Madrid are pressing really high up the pitch in an attempt to stop Barcelona from playing out from the back here. The hosts want to pin Barca back into their own half both when they are in possession and when they aren't.

Barcelona have finally begun to settle into this game now. They are seeing more of the ball and playing in more advanced areas, although they are yet to trouble Keylor Navas.

CHANCE! Big chance for Ronaldo, but he completely misses the ball! Madrid break forward down the left flank and a low ball is played into the box for Ronaldo, who is in space. However, it is a complete air shot from the world player of the year - proof that it can also happen to the best. The ball almost carries through to Carvajal, but Iniesta puts in a crucial last-ditch challenge inside the box.

Iniesta hurt himself while making that challenge and needs some treatment, but it looks as though he will be fine to continue.

Barcelona are struggling to get their front two into this game in the early stages. Messi and Suarez have barely touched the ball, whereas Ronaldo is involved in almost everything for Madrid.

Important interception from Alba as he cuts out Benzema's pass inside the box following a good team move from the hosts.

Messi walks around looking disinterested before suddenly bursting into life and darting behind the defence. Iniesta has the vision to see the run, but on this occasion lacks the ability to produce the difficult pass.

Barcelona are not playing with any urgency here. Real Madrid are very much the team looking to make things happen, although that is what you would expect given the gap between the two teams in the table.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the afternoon is shown to Vermaelen for a clear and cynical trip on Modric. I suspect it won't be the last card of the game.

Ronaldo again threatens down the left flank, breaking into the box before cutting inside onto his right foot. He has options in the middle, but chooses to go for goal himself and sees his effort blocked.

Barcelona make their brightest break forward so far as Messi gets involved, exchanging passes with Paulinho on his way into the box. Casemiro gets back to make sure that Madrid only concede a corner, though.

Messi has often been forced to drop deep so far this afternoon in order to get on the ball. His influence in the final third has been very limited so far.

We're approaching the half-hour mark in this game now and so far it hasn't developed into the classic we were hoping for. Madrid continue to look the most likely, but clear chances have been at a premium.

Even Sergio Ramos have been fairly low key so far today, but he catches Paulinho here and Casemiro is lucky not to go into the book for kicking the ball away straight after.

CHANCE! Barcelona's first chance of the afternoon falls to Paulinho! It is a brilliant pass over the top from Messi to find the run of Paulinho, whose first-time half-volley is tipped over the crossbar by Navas. First warning shot for the home side!

The resultant corner is met with a firm header by Pique, but his effort is blocked and Real Madrid survive.

CHANCE! Madrid go straight up the other end and almost break the deadlock themselves! It is Ronaldo, as ever, who threatens, bursting down the left channel before drilling a low strike across goal with his left foot. Ter Stegen reacts really well to stick out a leg and make a crucial save, though.

Ronaldo makes himself available from the resultant corner and rises highest to meet the cross, but he cannot steer his header on target.

CHANCE! Ronaldo pops up on the right this time and plays a dangerous low ball into the middle, but Pique and Vermaelen just about do enough to deny Benzema.

The ball breaks to Suarez just inside the Madrid half and he immediately looks to run at the defence. He skips past one challenge and takes it past another defender, but his touch is too heavy and runs through to the keeper.

Marcelo needs a bit of treatment here, but he should be fine to continue. It is a fiercely-contested battle between these two - as ever - but it hasn't quite lived up to expectations so far.

SAVE! Navas is called into action again here as Messi dances down the left channel before squeezing a cross into the box which Paulinho does really well to meet in front of the defender. Navas makes a smart save at the near post, although he would have been disappointed if that have crept in.

Real Madrid respond with a counter-thrust as Carvajal floats a dangerous cross into the box which Pique does just enough to deal with while Ronaldo and Benzema were also in attendance. The attack eventually comes to an end when Modric drags a shot wide of the target.

OFF THE POST! Real Madrid are inches away from breaking the deadlock right on the stroke of half time! Marcelo whips a cross into the box and Benzema darts in front of Vermaelen to get his head to the ball. He glances it towards the bottom corner, but it clips the outside of the post on its way behind.

Madrid have certainly been the main aggressors in this first half, but Barcelona would have expected that and the onus is still very much on the hosts to take the game to Barcelona. Barca are happy enough to just keep Madrid at bay right now.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

The first half of the Clasico comes to an end, then, and we're still goalless at the Bernabeu following a fairly low-key contest between Real Madrid and Barcelona so far.

Real Madrid have come closest to breaking the deadlock with Ronaldo looking particularly dangerous, but Barcelona have had a couple of good sights of goal themselves and this one could still go either way.

The closest we have come so far arrived shortly before half time when Karim Benzema clipped the outside of the post with a glancing header from Marcelo's cross.

Benzema did really well to get in front of his man and flick his header towards the bottom corner. Ter Stegen was well beaten, but the ball struck the upright on its way behind.

Cristiano Ronaldo has looked the most likely player on the pitch to provide the opening goal, though, with the Portuguese forward seeing one goal correctly disallowed and also drawing a fine save from Ter Stegen.

Ronaldo was left embarrassed after just 10 minutes, though, when he completely missed the ball in a really good position to let Barcelona off the hook. The Ballon d'Or winner has also set up a decent chance for Benzema, but Pique did enough to thwart that.

At the other end of the pitch, Barcelona haven't offered too much, but Paulinho has drawn a couple of saves from Keylor Navas.

The first was the best of the lot when the Brazilian darted in behind to latch on to Messi's brilliant pass forward before firing a first-time half-volley towards goal which needed to be tipped over the top. Messi was also the creator for Paulinho's second chance, although this time it was a more routine stop for Navas at his near post.

KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us back underway for the second half of El Clasico. Remember, there has not been a goalless draw between these two sides since 2002.

SHOT! The first shot of the second half comes from Ronaldo, who cuts inside from the left and attempts to let fly, but he scuffs his effort and drags it harmlessly wide of the near post.

Barcelona have seen the majority of the ball in the opening stages of his second half. It has been a much better start to the half for the visitors.

Now it is Real Madrid who are struggling to get their feet on the ball and get out from their own half. Barca have taken control of this second half in the early stages.

CHANCE! Barcelona knock the ball about comfortably before bursting into life, with Alba slipped in down the left flank. He cuts the ball back to Suarez, but the Uruguayan's finish is a little tame and Navas makes the save.

First blood goes to Barcelona! It is a devastating move from the visitors, who play out from the back before Suarez finishes it off.

Busquets starts the move off in defence with a pass into Rakitic, and the pitch just seems to open up for the Croatian. He carries the ball a long way into the Madrid half before giving it out to Roberto, who in turn lays a perfect first-time pass into the path of Suarez. Navas reads it and gets across, but he cannot keep out Suarez's first-time finish as he drills it below the keeper.

It's all or nothing time for Real Madrid now. They are on course to fall 14 points behind Barcelona here, and they have just over half an hour to change that. It is a period which could make or break their season.

CHANCE! Barcelona can smell blood here. This time Messi leads the charge before slipping the ball down the right channel for Suarez, but the striker loses his footing and can only pick out the side-netting with a shot which was initially meant to be a cross.

YELLOW CARD! Ramos gets his customary Clasico card for a challenge on Suarez which saw him catch the striker in the face.

SAVE! Barcelona look the most likely to add the game's second goal here. They come forward down the left flank and Kovacic's delivery is only played as far as Paulinho, whose curling effort is easy for the keeper.

What a devastating minute or so for Real Madrid! They go a man down and then two goals down in quick succession, with Lionel Messi slamming home from the penalty spot!

It was a flurry of activity before that, with Messi threading a fine ball through for Suarez, who only has the keeper to beat. Navas makes a big one-on-one save to deny the Uruguayan, but he then pokes the ball to Messi, who keeps his composure to find Suarez again. The second effort strikes the post, before Pique nods the ball towards goal from another rebound.

This time it is denied by Carvajal's save with his hand and, while Barca do then put the ball in the back of the net, the referee calls play back for the handball and shows Carvajal the red card. Barca ensure that they do get the goal as well, with Messi making no mistake.

REAL MADRID SUB: This change has not improved the home fans' mood here. With his side 2-0 down in the Clasico, Zidane brings on Nacho - a defender - in place of Benzema.

It doesn't look like there is any way back for Real Madrid here. Barca have been the better team in this second half by some distance, and they have taken the game away from Madrid in that time.

SAVE! Navas is called into action again here as he keeps out a low strike from Messi and crucially holds on to the ball too, with Suarez lurking.

REAL MADRID SUBS: Here comes the cavalry for Real Madrid, but is it too late? Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale come on in place of Casemiro and Kovacic.

Madrid want a penalty here as Asensio's cross strikes Roberto, but the referee immediately waves the claims away. Real Madrid are adamant, but the ref is having none of it.

BARCELONA SUB: Barca make a change of their own here as Nelson Semedo replaces Iniesta.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Real Madrid to give themselves a lifeline in this match! The hosts come forward down the right flank and a low pass is played in to Bale, but Ter Stegen makes a fine save from the Welshman's effort. Bale should have scored there!

SAVE! Ter Stegen is called into action by Bale again here as the winger cuts inside onto his left and tries to curl one into the far corner. Ter Stegen is across to it in good time but initially spills the ball before gathering it at the second attempt.

CHANCE! Chance for Barcelona at the other end this time! Semedo is played through down the right channel and shoots across the face of goal, but Navas makes another important save. That would have been game over once and for all!

CHANCE! More debate here as once again Madrid want a penalty which is dismissed by the referee. Ramos stays alert inside the box, though, and takes a touch before hammering the ball towards goal from a tight angle which Ter Stegen does well to save from close range.

Ronaldo plays a low ball across the face of goal which Ramos is inches away from turning home, although he was in an offside position.

BARCELONA SUB: Another change for Barcelona here as Andre Gomes replaces Paulinho.

Madrid have responded well to that second goal in fairness - particularly since the introductions of Bale and Asensio - but it is surely too late for them to salvage anything from this game now. They needed that Bale chance to go in.

SAVE! Messi comes close again with a good first-time volley which Navas needs two attempts to collect.

There will be three added minutes at the end of this match.

CHANCE! Messi feeds the ball out to Gomes in a good position, but the midfielder lacks composure and fires his finish well over.

BARCELONA SUB: A third and final change for Barca sees Roberto replaced by Aleix Vidal.

Barca have a third in the final minute to pile even more misery on Real Madrid! Vidal, who was only brought on moments ago, fires his effort in from Messi's cutback. Navas perhaps should have saved it, but despite getting plenty on the ball it squirmed underneath him and over the line.

The referee brings an end to the final El Clasico of 2017, and as with the previous ones this year it is one to remember as Barcelona win three successive La Liga games at the Bernabeu for the first time in their history!

Second-half goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal saw Barca cruise to a 3-0 victory which gives them a nine-point lead at the top of La Liga and, just as importantly, a 14-point advantage over Real Madrid. Surely there is no coming back from that.

Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's blockbuster clash as Barcelona take another step towards regaining the Liga title, all but ending Madrid's defence in the process. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.

From me, though, it is goodbye for now!