Real Madrid v Barcelona - in pictures

As fans gather outside the Bernabéu to welcome the arrival of the Madrid team, the sense of anticipation is rising. This may be the fourth instalment of El Clasico this season, but the previous three pale in comparison to what's ahead. Barça's 5-0 league victory last November is a distant memory; even Madrid's recent Copa del Rey triumph seems trivial as tonight's kick-off nears Photograph: Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images

Barcelona's players, including Dani Alves, David Villa, Pedro Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano warm up as the crowd take their seats Photograph: Juan Carlos Hidalgo/EPA

Ronaldo measures the size of his ego Photograph: Juan Carlos Hidalgo/EPA

Bet Pep Guardiola didn't expect to be greeted by his counterpart as he emerged from the tunnel - certainly not after the vitriolic words he and Jose "the xxxx-ing chief" Mourinho exchanged this week Photograph: Alberto Martin/EPA

Early in the match, Ronaldo fires a warning shot from distance, but it's easily smothered by Victor Valdes Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

Madrid's Lassana Diarra is dispossessed by Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez in a crowded midfield Photograph: Paul White/AP

Seydou Keita's and Sergio Ramos challenge one another, but neither wins the ball Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Chances haven't been plentiful as yet, but when Barca get a rare sight of goal, Iker Casillas worriedly plunges to his right. Fortunately for him, the ball flashes wide Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

All eyes are on Messi tonight, but Sergio Ramos isn't giving him much room to impress Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Looks as if Ronaldo has forgetten the old maxim 'always keep your eye on the ball' Photograph: Alberto Martin/EPA

Angel di Maria controls a looping pass on the left flank and looks to cut inside ... Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

The Argentinian skips past Mascherano but can't create the goal-scoring chance his side desire Photograph: Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images

Marcelo finds himself in a compromising position with David Villa Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images

It's getting feisty out there - players are hitting the turf all over the place Photograph: Arturo Rodriguez/AP

Ronaldo isn't enjoying his role as a lone striker tonight, but Mourinho offers words of encouragement to his countryman Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Tempers rise shortly before half-time when Pedro is shoulder-barged off the ball by Arbeloa. There's nothing much in it, but try telling that to the players Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

Merry hell breaks loose as the teams enter the tunnel at the interval. Someone must have said something silly. The end result is that Barcelona's substitute keeper Jose Pinto (wearing the purple vest) is sent off Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Into the second half and the aggression continues ... though evidently Mascherano seems to think he did absolutely nothing wrong here Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

In the 60th minute, Madrid receive a red card too, but this time it's shown to a player on the field. Pepe is dismissed for a late and high lunge, though his team-mates protest that the decision is harsh Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

Mourinho, too, is sent to the stands for an outburst aimed at the fourth official Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Unable to speak to his bench, he's forced to communicate by pass-notes Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

In the 76th minute Barca break down the flank and when the left-back Marcelo slips, the ball is whipped into the box where Messi is ready to pounce ... Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The Argentinian applies a deft touch and the ball shoots between the goalkeeper's legs to give Barcelona the lead Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Messi is swamped by his team-mates. That was his 51st goal this season! Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

Xabi Alonso is dejected - he knows he was largely to blame for failing to track Messi's run Photograph: Paul White/AP

But worse is to come for the home side when, in the 87th minute, Messi collects the ball near the centre circle and weaves between rows of desperate Galacticos ... Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

... before guiding the ball into the far corner. It's a truly sublime goal making it 2-0 Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Messi, the maestro, salutes the crowd. In a match marred by countless scuffles and three dismissals, he has provided a delightful denouement Photograph: Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images