Spanish La Liga

Barca right-back Dani Alves is well known for his marauding runs, not so for his long-range shooting ability. Here, the Brazilian combines both elements, sending an ambitious 25-yard shot dipping towards the Atletico goal. Home keeper Jan Oblak has to be alert to tip over.

Spanish La Liga

Espanyol might be Barcelona's neighbours but they are showing no signs of rolling over to help Real Madrid's cause. Anaitz Arbilla sends an optimistic drive over from about 30 yards, while Felipe Caicedo (remember him, Manchester City fans?) is proving a nuisance to the visitors' defence.

Image source, Getty Images

Spanish La Liga

Still Barca probe for a breakthrough ahead of half-time. Jet-heeled Barca forward Pedro tears to the right bye-line to pull back towards Lionel Messi, only for some desperate Atletico defending to stop the Argentine teeing up Jordi Alba.

Spanish La Liga

Actually I might have done a disservice to referee Alberto Undiano. He might well have actually booked Atletico defender Diego Godin, not the fouled Dani Alves earlier (see 18:31). That would make much more sense. We'll try to clear that one up at the break.

Barcelona are doing most of the attacking at the moment, albeit very patiently as they try to unlock a typically-organised home side. Pedro tries a spectacular bicycle kick - he scored one last weekend - but cannot connect cleanly.

Image source, Getty Images

Spanish La Liga

As things stand Barcelona will win the title tonight. That's because they are matching rivals Real Madrid's result.

Cristiano Ronaldo swaps passes with Isco to get in behind the Espanyol defence but the Portugal star is about five yards offside. Ancelotti has swapped the exec box for the posh seats in the stand and has ditched the cigarette in favour of biting nails.

Image source, EPA

And Lionel Messi clips the top of the Atletico crossbar with the resulting set-piece. Close, but not close enough.

Bizarrely Dani Alves is also booked after that incident - for diving inside the area following the shirt tug. So he is booked for diving, but wins a free-kick in the process. OK....

Image source, Getty Images

Lionel Messi stands over the ball on the side of the pitch covered in Madrid sunshine...

Half an hour gone in the Spanish top-flight - and still no goals in our two main matches in Madrid and Espanyol.

Oooh, hang on - is this a penalty in the Vicente Calderon? Barca right-back Dani Alves goes down in the Atletico box. The referee blows his whistle. And he points for a free-kick outside the box for a shirt tug on Alves.

Sebastian Ampofo: Madrid's slide after the winter break has been alarming and may well cost Ancelotti his job.

Colin McPhail: Well, Atletico won it at the Nou Camp last year, so what comes around...

Spanish La Liga

Still this game whizzes from end to end at a frightening speed. Not sure how long it will last though - temperature at pitchside is 88 degrees apparently. Scorchio!

Spanish La Liga

Carlo Ancelotti is having to watch his Real Madrid team from an executive box as he serves the first of a two-match touchline ban. The Italian is caught by TV cameras having a sneaky cigarette as he watches the action. A stress-busting fag perhaps?

Image source, Getty Images

Ancelotti's suspension means English coach Paul Clement - his assistant - is Los Blancos' main man in the dugout today. Not sure what he'll have made of the visitors' start. They've had the best chance but Espanyol are giving them plenty to think about.

Spanish La Liga

Nope, still not Messi's day. Yet. The Barca talisman clips the free-kick into the Atletico box, but it is a little too strong as home keeper Jan Oblak jumps up above a cluster of bodies to easily gather.

Spanish La Liga

So far it has not been Lionel Messi's afternoon. He's missed a couple of decent chances, had a penalty appeal turned down, and now has his legs swiped from underneath him by Atletico defender Diego Godin. Barca free-kick about 35 yards out from goal...

Image source, Getty Images

Zack: If Bale or anyone else missed that header (see 18:15), everyone would be criticizing him, Ronaldo is like a god at Real

It is a rather muted appeal from Barcelona for a penalty - but an appeal nonetheless. Lionel Messi meets a deep right-wing cross with a diving header, but sees his goalbound effort blocked by Atleti centre-back Diego Godin. Messi reckons the Uruguayan uses his hand. Not a penalty for me.

Spanish La Liga

Image source, EPA

Barcelona have settled down again after needing goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to come to the rescue in the opening 10 minutes. The away side burst forward on the counter attack through Messi, Pedro and Neymar, before the ball is returned to Messi on the edge of the Atletico area. The Argentine pulls the trigger - but fires well over the bar.

John McEnerney: Atletico haven't hit the heights of 2014, didn't replace well enough. But Simeone will have them pumped up for Barca, tricky enough for Messi and co.

Spanish La Liga

Big chance for Real to draw first blood but, almost unbelievably, Ronaldo misses with a header at the back post after Daniel Carvajal's superb cross in from the right. You'd have put your holiday home on the Portuguese forward scoring there.

Messi AND Ronaldo both missing simple chances within seconds of each other?! We kid you not.

Spanish La Liga

Ladies and gentlemen - we have a proper game on our hands in Madrid. High tempo, hard tackling and plenty of chances. Lovely.

Image source, Getty Images

Two chances fall into the path of Barcelona's Lionel Messi in the space of a few seconds - but the Argentine cannot convert either. Scarcely believable I know. First his low shot is straight down the throat of Atleti keeper Jan Oblak, before Messi plants a free header straight at the Czech.

Spanish La Liga

Over in Barcelona, second-placed Real on top in the early stages without really threatening.

Gareth Bale latched on to a Karim Benzema through-ball but was flagged offside and Cristiano Ronaldo has seen a shot blocked after receiving Bale's pass.

Image source, Getty Images