Luka Modric continues to ooze class with every contribution. His runs are superb, his passing brilliant. He helps get Real up the pitch to start an attack that ends with Vinicius Jr. almost getting in.

Chance!

A Raphinha cross is cleared but not far, meaning Barca can work the ball back to the Brazilian. He whips in a ball that Andreas Christensen meets but glances wide with his head.

Oh, so nearly a moment of brilliance from Real. They shift Barca around, working the ball deep and then driving it up through the field.

Luka Modric finds Fede Valverde, but his low ball into the middle is poked out of play by a marauding team-mate.

Lovely move right until the crucial final moment.

Gavi again looks to Raphinha, but this time the Brazilian forward is offside.

It is engrossing stuff. Two high-quality sides going toe to toe.

Raphinha is the man Barca are looking to. He is found in the box but curls his cross over Ronald Araujo and out of play.

The first yellow card goes to Nacho for a scrape down the heel of Ronald Araujo.

The Barca players complain about the foul. The Real players complain that Nacho took a blow himself from Sergi Roberto not long ago but there was no card.

Vinicius Jr. is the man for Real. Get the ball to him. Every time.

He cuts inside, ghosting past a marker before firing a cross just in front of Karim Benzema.

Sergi Roberto is perhaps a bit fortunate not to get a booking as he slides in late and catches Nacho.

Real Madrid have scored 9 goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half, more than any other team in the Spanish La Liga this season.

They have also now scored scored 23 first-half goals in 26 games. Again, no team has scored more in the Spanish La Liga this season.

Real's turn to attack.

Robert Lewandowski unleashes a shot from outside the box and Jules Kounde takes it in the face.

Chance!

Hesitation in defence allows Robert Lewandowski to nip in and get a sight of goal. Dani Carvajal recovers to block his effort.

Soon after, Thibaut Courtois has to come out to gather at the feet of Raphinha.

It's all-action stuff.

Real have the foundation now.

They can look to manage this game. Sit on a lead, let Barca over-commit and try to pick them off.

In Vinicius Jr., they have a player purpose built to destroy teams like this.

Every decision is being contested not only by 22 men on the pitch but around 90,000 in the stands. The noise is deafening.

Real need to get a foothold in this. After having the first shot of the game inside 30 seconds they've barely had a touch.

Massive chance! Massive save!

Barca have their tails up. A cross is chipped to the back post, where Raphinha is in acres of space. He angles a header back across goal and draws a brilliant stop from Thibaut Courtois.

Real can't get the ball fully away and a follow-up shot from Sergi Roberto flies over the bar.

Thibaut Courtois also does a fine job to come out and claim the first corner.

Decent start.

And now a save for Thibaut Courtois to make as Barca's patient probing ends with Robert Lewandowski firing a shot from range on target. The Belgian does his job well.

Image source, Getty Images

A shot inside 30 seconds!

Real win the ball in midfield and set Karim Benzema away. His low effort is saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barca are top by nine points. Real are second and surely have to win to keep the title race alive.

It's a massive El Clasico and it is under way in a very lively Nou Camp.