Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of El Clasico! This is the big one, it's Real Madrid against Barcelona. We'll bring you all the action from the Santiago Bernabeu. Kick off is at 7.45pm.

Indeed, there's the enforced change from Real Madrid and Asensio comes on to replace the injured Bale. That's a little surprising. I think most expected to see Isco come off the bench.

BALE IS DOWN! This was the risk attached with playing the Welsh winger this evening. Bale has hit the ground and it looks like he will have to be replaced here. He's still struggling with injury.

MASSIVE MODRIC SHOT! What a strike from the Croatian midfielder! He took the effort on from about 20 yards out, but Ter Stegen made the save, diving to his left to keep Modric out.

The stepover from Suarez in the build up to Messi's goal was fantastic. That was real link up play from the Barcelona frontline. More of that and they will score more goals tonight.

I asked what the response from Barcelona would be and there it is. The Catalans haven't notched many shots on goal in this first half, but Messi doesn't pass up chances like that.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 1 (33 mins - Lionel Messi). What an astonishing goal! Fantastic stuff! Messi picks up the ball inside the box, jinks past two Real Madrid defenders and finishes low past Navas. What a wonderful piece of skill from the Argentine! Barcelona are level again!

Regardless of whether the correct decision was made or not Real Madrid have a 1-0 lead and now it's up to Barcelona to come out and mount a fightback. Will they change things up?

CONTROVERSY! Replays show that when the ball was played into the Barcelona penalty area Ramos was offside. Indeed, the Real Madrid defender was a yard beyond the last man.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Real Madrid 1 (29 mins - Casemiro) Barcelona 0. The home side have the lead! It wasn't a pretty goal, but it's certainly an important one! Marcelo puts the cross into the box, with Ramos hitting the post, but Casemiro was on hand to turn home the finish from close range.

That was an opportunity for Real Madrid, who come flying forward on the counter attack. Ronaldo passed it to Benzema, who gives the ball away cheaply. Ronaldo isn't happy with him.

Pique is really struggling to keep tabs on Ronaldo so far in this match. The Real Madrid number seven is roaming all the way across the frontline and Pique doesn't know whether to track him or not.

Messi is still running around the pitch with a tissue in his mouth to soak up the blood pouring from his face. He looks to be okay, but he took a sore one from the elbow of Marcelo.

MESSI IS BLEEDING! The Argentine has taken a real sore one here. Marcelo caught him with an elbow and Messi now has a mouthful of blood. Replays show it was accidental.

BIG SAVE FROM TER STEGEN! Ronaldo cut inside from the left wing and fires off an effort at the Barcelona goal, but the German goalkeeper got down well to make the diving stop.

BENZEMA TAKES THE SHOT! Modric picks out the run of the French striker from deep, but Ter Stegen makes the save to deny him. There wasn't enough power or direction in the effort.

MESSI DRIBBLE! The Barcelona number 10 dribbles one, two, three Real Madrid players, but tries to set up Rakitic when he gets to the edge of the box rather than going it alone.

Ronaldo was very close to threading through a pass for Benzema there, but there was just a little too much weight on the ball and the Barcelona defence were given the chance to clear.