Real draw with Barcelona

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot on 53 minutes following a foul on David Villa which got Raul Albiol sent off, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to do likewise seven minutes from time to ensure a share of the spoils.

The draw all but hands Barca a third-straight title as they maintain their eight-point advantage at the top of the table with six games remaining, in addition to their 6-1 head-to-head goal difference over Real.

The two sides will meet again at Valencia's Mestalla on Wednesday for the Copa del Rey final before contesting the two legs of their Champions League semi-final on April 27 and May 3.

This fixture was the first of four meetings between these two sides in 18 days, with each game of greater magnitude than the last, the occasion was enough to knock even this collection of some of the world's greatest players off their stride in the early stages.

The usually metronomic Xavi Hernandez misplaced a pass that went out for a throw-in during an opening 10 minutes characterised by niggling fouls rather than flowing football.

Jose Mourinho's conservative team selection - with attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil dropped in favour of a midfield berth for defender Pepe - worked well in the face of Barca's superior possession (81 per cent in the first 15 minutes).

Real had the first clear chance when Ronaldo's free-kick was struck hard but right down the throat of Victor Valdes, before Lionel Messi first tested Iker Casillas with an attempted lob over the Spain keeper which was not nearly high enough.

Barca began to hit their stride and when David Villa appeared to beat Casillas to the ball inside the box and go down under his challenge his team-mates wanted a penalty, but instead referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez gave Barca defender Gerard Pique a booking for the dissent in his appeals.

Angel di Maria should have done better when he fired over the near upright with space inside the box, and Ronaldo was only denied a clear shot at goal from 12 yards by Adriano's well-timed interception.

Messi stung the palms of Casillas after a neat one-two with Villa, but the hero of the first half was Dani Alves when the Brazil full-back blocked Ronaldo's header on the line with Valdes floundering.

Ronaldo came close to opening the scoring five minutes after the break from another free-kick. This time, the Portuguese fired a low swerving effort from 30 yards that ricocheted off the foot of the post with Valdes seemingly stranded.

In the blink of an eye, Barca were a goal up when Villa chased a pass into the Real box and Albiol desperately hauled him down by the neck. Referee Fernandez had no choice but to send the defender off, and Messi fired his spot-kick down the middle to register his first goal in 12 matches against a team managed by Mourinho.

Xavi then clipped the top of the crossbar before, soon enough, both managers made changes, with Mourinho introducing Ozil and Emmanuel Adebayor while Pep Guardiola introduced Seydou Keita.

Ozil certainly made his presence felt as the attacking onus of the match began to sway towards Real, and they got their chance to end their run of five straight defeats to Barca 10 minutes from time when Alves brought down fellow Brazil full-back Marcelo. Ronaldo sent Valdes the wrong way to register his first ever goal against Barca.

The performance of both sides was lifted by that goal, with Villa and Sami Khedira both being denied winners for their respective sides, but the first chapter of this epic saga rightfully ended honours even.