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Will Lionel Messi get his 500th career goal tonight?

The yes of the world are watching. We're back under way.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Newcastle United boss John Carver on Gary Neville's sacking: "I have seen some of his press conferences at Valencia and he had lost his players. Do I have sympathy for him? Yes, I do."

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 live

"Gary Neville has done to Valencia what Pepe Mel did at West Brom. He basically hasn't got to grips with it."

Was Gary Neville struck by England's Euro 96 curse?

BBC Radio 5 Live

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European football expert Andy Brassell speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: “I don’t think Gary Neville had any chance of turning it around and I think it was an incredibly difficult first job.

“Not just because of the relative lack of experience, not just because of the size of Valencia, but because of the situation he was going into.

“The fans were pretty unhappy with the way the club was being run, players were dispirited but you add to that the lack of experience, the communication barrier - it was just all too much.”

Earlier in La Liga, Valencia lost their first match since sacking Gary Neville as they went down 2-1 away to Las Palmas. 

The debate over Neville's dismissal rages on.

Mike Crew:, external This won't end 11-a-side.

Thor Jensen:, external Spare a thought for Rafa Benitez who assumed he would be at Camp Nou and instead spent the day losing in Norwich.

Stephen MCP Brogarth:, external Weird to say this but Barca are happily playing out a draw here. Already look out of ideas against Real back seven. Real to nick this.

Jay:, external If you masked players' faces and hid their names, this would look like a match between Big Sam & Tony Pulis managed teams.

Image source, AFP

There's tension in the air at the Nou Camp. A few whistles as the players head for the dressing rooms - probably directed at the referee after Lionel Messi was denied a penalty.

Zinedine Zidane will be the happier of the two managers.

It might be called El Clasico but this has been anything but a classic.

One minute of added time.

Chance at the both ends!

Dani Alves goes close after the ball drops to him in the Real penalty area before Karim Benzema blazes his side's best chance well over the bar from a great position. That was a horrible miss from the France striker.

Image source, AFP

The tempo has dipped considerably as half-time approaches. Barca have had the better chances and should be ahead. Luis Suarez won't be happy until his side score after his terrible early miss. Real continue to soak up everything that comes their way. Gareth Bale is firing long throw-ins into the Barca penalty area but none have yet resulted in any chances.

Another collision. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro is left rubbing his left ferociously after running into Lionel Messi at full speed. 

Image source, EPA

Medbo Boomin:, external My dream strike force are the big three currently playing tonight against Real Madrid. Pure class.

George Harrold:, external Comparing the quality of the EPL and La Liga, which players from the entire EPL would get into either of these teams? De Gea?

Jay:, external That miss by Suarez would have made Soldado proud.

The longer this stays goalless the happier Real will be. They have set up to invite pressure and catch Barca on the break. It's pretty quiet considering there are 90,000 inside the Nou Camp. Music to Zinedine Zidane's ears. 

Andy West
Spanish football writer at the Nou Camp

"Much better from Real Madrid since that penalty appeal. Barca aren't finding space so easily and we've got a real contest finally. Wonder if Barca will rue missing those early chances."

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Image source, Reuters

A good old fashioned hack from Javier Mascherano on Gareth Bale in full flight earns the Barca player a yellow. There really is no love lost between these two teams. 

It's niggly, a little bit scrappy in places, but Barca continue to boss possession and should be ahead.

Image source, Reuters

An encouraging period for Real as Cristiano Ronaldo forces a save from distance before Gareth Bale fires over. Are they coming back into this?

The handkerchiefs are out. The crowd is furious with the referee who allows Sergio Ramos' foul on Lionel Messi right on the edge of the area go unpunished. Furious doesn't even cover it. Jeers and whistles echo around the Nou Camp.

Quiet start by Gareth Bale who has been caught off side a couple of times while he has just delivered a long throw-in that caused Barca keeper Claudio Bravo an anxious moment as he juggled the ball before gathering.

Image source, Reuters

Seth Gogo Egoeh:, external I don't like the way Zidane has this Real Madrid set up. Why aren't they pressing Barca? I still expect Madrid to win though.