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El Clasico Live: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET

El Clasico Live: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET

Barcelona and Real Madrid played an intense first 45 minutes that ended up 1-1 at the break. Referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz was a busy man, issuing five yellow cards to Pepe (21st minute), Luis Suarez (28th), Cristiano Ronaldo (38th for simulation), Jordi Alba (38th) and Sergio Ramos (45th).

[Slideshow: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in pictures from the Camp Nou]

The hosts broke through first after Pepe fouled Suarez just outside the penalty area. Lionel Messi took the free kick, swinging in a ball from the left that found Jeremy Matheiu. The center back's cracking header past a helpless Iker Casillas made it 1-0 Barcelona in the 19th minute.

That delighted a Camp Nou crowd that proceeded to boo Cristiano Ronaldo every time he touched the ball. CR7 silenced the jeers in the 31st minute when he was played into space in the box by a nifty backheel by Karim Benzema. Ronaldo's right-footed finish past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made it 1-1.

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Follow the action as it happened with the Scribble Live stream below.