El Clasico: Captain Sergio Ramos salvages Real Madrid pride at Barcelona

Sergio Ramos headed home a last-gasp equaliser to preserve Real Madrid’s six-point advantage in La Liga.

The teams stood together before the game to observe a minute’s silence for the Chapecoense players who died in a tragic plane crash earlier this week.

However, once the action got underway old hostilities were renewed as Madrid screamed for a penalty less than two minutes in.

For Modric at Madrid, read Andres Iniesta for Barcelona.

Lionel Messi’s weak free-kick was then easily gathered by Keylor Navas as the match struggled to spark into life. “If the game had ended in the 89th minute you (the media) would not be asking me this”.

The game had been scrappy for long parts but Cristiano Ronaldo lit things up with a flurry of chances late in the first half.

And Germany global Ter Stegen also saved Ronaldo’s long-range shot.

Luis Enrique was disappointed to have let the victory, and the chance to cut the deficit to three points, slip away from his side.

Neymar sliced open the Real defence but put too much power into his shot while substitute Iniesta shot into the side netting after magnificent play from the Brazilian. The provider of that goal, Neymar, was probably the brightest of the attacking stars on show, putting his occasional tendency to showboat to one side to deliver a committed display and almost producing a memorable goal by skipping past Dani Carvajal before shooting too high.

Iniesta, Neymar and Messi all added shots that could have sealed the win. He hit the side netting in the 69th minute but ultimately couldn’t find the net on his return.

Barcelona were seconds away from closing the gap on their fierce rivals – but Ramos’ goal means Madrid remain six points clear at the top. It was a very even first half and a second that we were better, we created chances. They show a lot of heart. He was taunted to “come out of the closet” by Barcelona supporters. “They are very risky in these situations and that proved to be the case”.

Ramos’ equaliser was followed by a last-ditch goalline clearance from Casemiro to deny Suarez a second headed goal.

Saturday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona was a contest of few chances, and each club managed to take one of theirs. “Ramos always comes up with something”. He never gives up.