Straight away Real nearly open up a two-goal lead as a Vinicius cross is turned against the base of the post by a Barca defender.

Don't go anywhere!

Antoine Griezmann is levered off the ball at one end before Karim Bezema puts one out the back of the stand at the other end. Not the sort of setting you normally see for a Clasico but captivating all the same.

The offside flag is belatedly raised but what a pass that is from Frenkie de Jong! He picked out Antoine Griezmann with a delicious ball across but the Frenchman slides it wide.

This is remarkable weather now. You can hardly see the far side of the pitch it's raining so hard!

Image source, Getty Images

Barca have changed their system but there's no real change to the pattern of play. Barca keep the ball, Real sit off and hit them on the break. With threat every time too.

Proper rain still in Madrid, lashing it down as Ousmane Dembele sends in a wonderful cross that is headed out. The corner flag is taking a battering from the elements.

Oscar Migueza has moved out to right-back for Barca with Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele either side of Lionel Messi.

Get the first goal back and...

And we're back up and running.

Change at the break - Barca are chucking on a £100m striker in Antoine Griezmann.

He replaces Sergino Dest as the visitors go to a back four.

The only time Barcelona defeated Real Madrid after trailing by at least a two-goal margin at half-time was on 7 June 1959, 4-2 in the Copa del Rey.

So it doesn't look massively likely.

Lionel Messi then has another shot saved by Thibaut Courtois as Barca end the half strongly - but that is the half!

Wow! Almost a fluke/stroke of genius from Lionel Messi, who bends in a corner from the right and beats Thibaut Courtois, smacking the far post.

That would have been one way to end his mini El Clasico drought.

Real full-back Lucas Vazquez took a whack in a 50/50 with Sergio Busquets a few minutes ago and he can't carry on.

He's replaced by Álvaro Odriozola.

The rain is lashing down now, more Manchester than Madrid. Ronald Koeman will surely have to change things at the break. His side are dominating possession but every time the ball is turned over they look likely to concede.

Frenkie de Jong turns a lovely ball around the corner into the run of Ousmane Dembele, who goes down inside the area but the referee is not interested.

So nearly three! Barca put in a dangerous cross but Real streak away and Vinicius again burns past the visitors.

He finds Federico Valverde on the right, who hammers a low shot across goal and against the post. Lucas Vazquez follows up but drills his shot right at Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barca just cannot cope on the break.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's what those goals have done to the table. Real back on top. Close enough?

The pattern is set now. Real drop off, win it back and hit Vinicius on the break. He's untouchable.

Barca really struggling to cope with the lively Brazilian who this time doesn't quite get the shot off.