Messi pressured referee in tunnel — Ramos

The advantage swung in Madrid’s favour as they controlled the game after the re-start but another stroke genius from Messi put Barca ahead again as it became 2-1.

They still have to negotiate home games against Villarreal and Real Sociedad, along with an away match against Levante, but it will require something special to end their 42-match unbeaten league record stretching 13 months.

However, Bale, who arguably should have been sent off in the first-half for a stamp on Emanuel Umtiti, hit a handsome first-time shot from the edge of the box to level the game from Madrid.

The challenge from Gerard Pique had come as Ronaldo cancelled out Luis Suarez’s opener before Sergi Roberto was sent off on the stroke of half-time for an altercation with Real defender Marcelo.

Ronaldo drew level with Di Stefano on Sunday by turning home from inside the six-yard box after Karim Benzema nodded a delivery from Toni Kroos across the face of goal.

“Clasicos are like that, they are intense matches”, the 33-year-old said of the game’s various flashpoints after his final ever meeting with Real Madrid. The referee gave each of them a yellow card.

Incredible goals by both sides, in particular by Gareth Bale and Lionel Messi have made this match an incredible watch.

Madrid had been second best up until that point and had struggled to get the ball forward, but that all changed once levelling up through a Ronaldo goal on the counter.

Los Blancos responded through their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo in the 15th minute.

Four minutes later, Barcelona fans bid club legend Andres Iniesta an emotional farewell when Paulinho replaced him in a tactical substitution. It was a kind of farewell for the Spanish midfielder.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Real Madrid on the night was the sight of Cristiano Ronaldo grimacing after he scored the first equaliser in the 14th minute.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said that he wasn’t anxious about Ronaldo being able to play in the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 26.

He then had a chance to sentence the outcome with a shot which Keylor Navas well saved, but ending his wait of almost six years for a Camp Nou Clasico goal in La Liga was enough to make a suitably big impression.