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El Clasico - Barcelona vs Real Madrid: What time does it start? What channel is it on? Where can I watch it?

Everything you need to know about El Clasico

Wednesday 30 March 2016 18:48 BST

Barcelona's attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar (Getty Images)

What time will the match start?

The 231^st Clasico will be held on Saturday 2 April at the Nou Camp, Barcelona. The kick-off is scheduled for 7.30pm BST.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be broadcasted live on Sky Sports 2 with coverage starting at 7.00pm.

Alternatively, if you cannot get to a television set, you can follow The Independent’s live blog.

What should I look out for?

Aside from the world’s best footballers doing battle in the sport’s grandest showpiece, there will also be a tribute to one of the greatest player of all-time.

The life of Johan Cruyff, who passed away last week, will be celebrated by a club at which he spent 13 years of his career, as both a player and a coach.

It will be Barcelona’s first game since the death of their icon. It promises to be an emotional evening.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Show all 22

1/22Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Keylor Navas – 5 out of 10

Hardly at fault for Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta’s goals, but will have been disappointed to have let Neymar’s shot slip under his legs.

2015 Getty Images

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Danilo – 5 out of 10

Up against Neymar and came second-best every time.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Raphael Varane – 4 out of 10

Unusually uneasy. The member of Madrid’s defence who was most often exposed.

Getty

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Sergio Ramos – 5 out of 10

Unable to marshal his defence effectively early on, which put Madrid firmly on the back foot.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Marcelo – 6 out of 10

Offered a decent outlet on the left hand side but was as culpable for defensive frailties.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Toni Kroos – 5 out of 10

Failed to stem the tide of Catalan shirts cascading towards him.

2015 Getty Images

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

James Rodriguez – 6 out of 10

Tested Bravo twice and was lively at times but looked uncomfortable on the right-hand side of a 4-4-2.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Luka Modric – 6 out of 10

Did not exert the kind of influence he usually has.

Getty

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Gareth Bale – 4 out of 10

Ineffective, bordering on invisible. Looked a shadow of the devastating player he was at White Hart Lane.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Karim Benzema – 4 out of 10

With all his off-the-field problems and lack of match fitness, unsurprisingly looked off the boil. The French striker did nothing to justify his contentious selection.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Cristiano Ronaldo – 6 out of 10

Typically, one of his side’s better performers, but lucky not to be sent off for a snide elbow on Dani Alves.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Claudio Bravo – 9 out of 10

The scoreline should not suggest that the Chilean had a quiet evening. Madrid, as bad as they were, created opportunities but found Bravo pulling off top class saves every time.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Dani Alves – 7 out of 10

No major errors except, perhaps, hauling Cristiano Ronaldo down in the box needlessly during the first half. He avoided conceding a penalty but earned an elbow from Ronaldo.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Gerard Piqué – 8 out of 10

Received dog’s abuse from the Bernabeu, as expected, but dealt with them effortlessly and handled Madrid’s attacking play in the same way.

Getty Images

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Javier Mascherano – 6 out of 10

Substituted early on after going down injured. Replace by Jeremy Mathieu.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Jordi Alba – 8 out of 10

His performance will be overlooked but barely put a foot wrong.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Ivan Rakitic – 7 out of 10

Did well considering his inclusion was in doubt.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Sergio Busquets – 8 out of 10

Composed, controlled, denied Madrid time and again. As good as we’ve come to expect.

Getty Images

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Andres Iniesta – 9 out of 10

In the autumn of his career, no doubt, but still capable of stunning moments. Received an ovation from the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Sergi Roberto – 9 out of 10

Lionel who? The man seen as Messi’s stand-in may not be quite at the Argentinian’s level yet, but tonight he filled his shoes and then some. Electric in the first half.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Luis Suárez – 9 out of 10

The man most likely to dismantle any defence in European football and, by virtue of his two goals, tonight’s man of the match.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona player ratings

Neymar – 9 out of 10

Sublime, again. His late claim for the Ballon D’Or is gathering pace.

What’s the form?

Barcelona: WWWWWD

Real Madrid: LWWWWW

What does the league table look like?

La Liga table (Google)

Real Madrid are out of the title race – that, at least, was the view of head coach Zinedine Zidane after the defeat to Atletico Madrid last month.

His side have won five on the bounce since but will be hard pressed to make it six in six at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona, meanwhile, boast a commanding nine-point lead at the top of La Liga and look all but certain to claim their second successive league title.

What happened last time?

Barcelona 4 Real Madrid 0
La Liga, 21 November 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo walks off dejected after Real Madrid's defeat (Getty Images)

Barça skittled Real Madrid in their rivals’ own backyard last November.

Rafael Benitez, then-Madrid head coach, selected an uncharacteristically adventurous line-up which proceeded to be blown apart by the talents of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Sergi Roberto.

Lionel Messi, returning from a knee injury sustained two months previously, appeared as a second-half substitute but his wizardry was not required.

By the time of his introduction in the 57th minute, the three points had already been wrapped up.

Barça’s win was their most convincing in a Clasico since that 5-0 Nou Camp rout in 2010. What price another thrashing this time round?

What are the odds?

Barcelona: 7/11

Draw: 37/10

Real Madrid: 43/10

Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 0: 55/1

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