Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, who is arguably in the form of his career, pings in a brilliant cross but it's cleared for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Chaudry M Hafeez: Whatever people say Leo is a class apart 499 goals unbelievable   

Mike Crew: Both keepers having "Worldies" 

DG: I'm looking forward to video refs getting rid of the players' need to brandish imaginary cards  

And now Keylor Navas makes his second save of the day, his second save in the last four minutes, with a diving block from Gerard Pique's header.

Image source, Getty Images

Lionel Messi slips the ball through to Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan tries to take it in his stride but can't and it goes through to keeper Keylor Navas, who I've barely mentioned today. In fact, I'm not sure I have written his name - he hadn't made a save before that one from Paco Alcacer a minute ago.

This is more like it though from Barca.

Barcelona have a free-kick but Lionel Messi blazes it over the bar.

Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer has struggled this season following his summer move from Valencia. 

Is this his big chance to win the Barca fans over? The ball breaks for him in the box - in El Clasico - but he prods right at the keeper. Wasted.

We're 10 minutes into the second half and Barcelona have basically done nothing.

How is this not a goal? Marcelo's cross finds Karim Benzema six yards out and his header is somehow kept out by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The German keeper just had to make himself big with a star jump and hope it hit him. It did.

Then Dani Carvajal shoots wide from outside the box.

Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen plays a goal-kick straight to Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, but they get away with it as the hosts fail to create a shooting chance.

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema catches Sergio Busquets on the leg with a late tackle. No yellow card.

John Holden-Peters: Messi doesn't dive unless he's been taken off his feet by a tackle from behind.  

Alistair Rutledge: surely it's for referee to wave the cards, players who wave imaginery cards should be booked for decent  

Craig Jardine: Casemiro immune from a red card twice in a week? Ridiculous. 

A very bright start to this half from Real Madrid and Toni Kroos' 25-yard effort is tipped around the post by his fellow German Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Real Madrid break at speed and Marco Asesion plays it out to Dani Carvajal, whose cross is cut out by Gerard Pique, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo waiting to tap it home.

A huge 45 minutes for the title race. Second half is under way.

The players are back out for the second half. Lionel Messi's cotton wool/bandage/whatever it was (I'm not a doctor) is gone.

Janez: Messi is present tonight. Barca will win this. 

Desmond Oguda: That is Messi taking the limelight away from CR7. Class player this.  

Steve Howes: Messi is diving and waving fake cards. El Clasico, complete nonsense. Once again it's pantomime season in La Liga.    

An unpopular opinion, I know, but I don't have any problem with waving imaginary cards. It's only asking for somebody to be punished for an offence they've committed. 

Barcelona only had one shot on target in the first half - Lionel Messi's goal. Real Madrid have had six efforts on target.

Another Lionel Messi stat for you, he is now the top scorer in Clasicos in La Liga, with number 15 taking him past Real legend Alfredo di Stefano.

He broke Di Stefano's 18-goal record for Clasico goals in all competitions some time ago - it's 22 now.

Real Madrid defender Nacho appeared to hurt himself in blocking a Jordi Alba cross, which led to the corner which created that Lionel Messi chance. 

They could do without losing him as they don't have any centre-backs on the bench. Pepe, the comic book villain of so many past Clasicos, and Raphael Varane are both injured.

We are level at the end of an exciting first half between these old rivals.