Real Madrid v Barcelona LIVE updates: Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema on target in Spanish Super Cup
43′ Karim Benzema nearly scores again!
The former Lyon star is allowed to sprint close to Barcelona’s penalty area.
And a thunderbolt drive just sails over Marc Andre Ter-Stegen’s goal.
41′ I make no apologies for this being pretty Real Madrid heavy.
That’s because the game has been.
Barcelona have offered precious little so far. It could get alot worse.
39′ GOAL! It’s been coming.
Karim Benzema doubles Real’s lead with a brilliant finish from the six-yard box.
Marcelo finds the Frenchman in the box and his first touch gets him away from Samuel Umtiti.
Another fine goal.
36′ Luka Modric is a baller. Fact.
The Real Madrid star produces a stuning piece of skill to get away from his man in the middle of the park.
And a cute little chopped pass finds its target too.
Lovely stuff. Top player.
33′ CLOSE! Lucas Vazquez strikes the woodwork.
In for Isco, the 26-year-old’s curling shot beats Marc Andre Ter-Stegen but hits the post.
Another let off for Barcelona. Real Madrid could be out of sight.
29′ Real Madrid go close yet again.
Lucas Vazquez picks out Toni Kroos in the area but the German scuffs the chance to extend their lead.
At the ther end, Luis Suarez is flagged offside after Ivan Rakitic tried to play him through.
27′ Another foul from Sergio Ramos.
And in other news, water is wet.
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Lionel Messi nearly equalised for Barcelona against Real Madrid
25′ Barcelona riding their luck.
Real Madrid nearly double their lead with Karim Benzema at the heart of things.
The France international manages to find Marco Asensio inside a packed Barcelona box.
But Gerard Pique manages to snuff out the attack just in time.
20′ Up the other end, Marcelo breaks for Real Madrid.
Marco Asensio sets him free but again, a pull-back is not met by an attacker.
If only they had a Mr Ronaldo on the pitch…
19′ More Messi magic.
The Argentina international looks fired up tonight and attempts to pull the ball back to Luis Suarez.
However, Raphael Varane is there in time to stop Suarez getting a shot away.
15′ Lionel Messi nearly levels for Barcelona.
The 29-year-old runs through the majority of the Real Madrid team, but a rare wayward touch takes him away from goal.
As a result, Keylor Navas is able to smother his shot. A wake up call for Zinedine Zidane’s side.
11′ First glimpse of Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan capitalises from a slip by Sergio Ramos to feed the ball into the area.
However, there’s nobody there to greet it.
9′ Gareth Bale should seriously consider leaving Real Madrid, you know.
Marco Asensio is something special and two goals in as many games against Barcelona will only see his stock rise higher.
Zinedine Zidane likes Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema more…so a return to the Premier League could revive his career.
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Marco Asensio celebrates his goal for Real Madrid against Barcelona
7′ Real have a free-kick and Samuel Umtiti is shoved to the floor by Sergio Ramos.
No card, but stick your money on Ramos to end the game with at least a yellow.
4′ GOAL! Marco Asensio scores beauties. All the time.
The youngster has bagged a stunning goal, banging it in with his left foot from about 25 yards.
It could be 30. I’m not great with measurements. But that was from a long way out.
Game on.
2′ Real Madrid going for it right fro the start.
Marco Asensio is released down the right and immediately pulls the ball back to Luka Modric.
But the Croatian’s shot is blocked by Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.
A lively opening.
22:00: And we’re underway.
21:57: Lionel Messi captains Barcelona this evening.
The Argentine shakes hands with his Real Madrid counterpart Sergio Ramos.
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, is in the stands.
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Real Madrid and Barcelona will do battle, but Gareth Bale has been dropped for the Spanish Super Cup
21:50: You have to hand it to Real Madrid.
They have some team if they are able to bench the world’s third most-expensive player of all time.
Could it come back to haunt them? Only time will tell.
21:45: We are 15 minutes away from watching Real Madrid and Barcelona battle it out again.
21:40: Usually, I would say a game like this is done and dusted.
But Barcelona showed last year they are capable of dramatic comebacks.
Remember they were 4-0 down to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last term.
But they came roaring back at the Nou Camp to win 6-1 and progress. That was with Neymar, however…
21:35: Real Madrid are aiming to win the Super Cup for the first time since 2012 this evening.
That was when Jose Mourinho was in charge, where they beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi started those games.
But tonight, it is down to Marco Asensio to tackle Barcelona’s Argentine star.
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Real Madrid post a picture of the warm-up ahead of their Barcelona clash
21:30: Barcelona go into tonight’s clash amid talk Philippe Coutinho could be announced in the next few hours.
And, speaking yesterday, Sergio Busquets has admitted he would welcome the Liverpool star and Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele.
“Replacing Neymar is a priority,” he said.
“Coutinho and Dembélé? Who ever comes will be welcome.”
21:25: Check below and you will see Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez arriving at the Nou Camp.
Seems weird to think that it is just those two now Neymar has joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Both men look deadly serious. Plotting a huge comeback, perhaps?
21:15: Just having a quick scour of Twitter after that Gareth Bale shock.
And it appears most Real Madrid fans are actually HAPPY the Wales international has been benched.
The common consensus seems to be that Marco Asensio is better. Plain and simple.
Additionally, not many seem happy to see Karim Benzema in the side.
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Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez arriving ahead of their Real Madrid clash
21:10: Perhaps it’s a good thing there is no Gareth Bale for Real Madrid tonight.
Los Blancos have lost all three Clasico games in which he has started.
Zinedine Zidane will surely explain that decison. Not bad having Marco Asensio to take his place, however…
21:00: So, changes for both teams then.
Gareth Bale has been sensationally dropped, with Lucas Vazuqez starting in his place.
And Real Madrid have also opted to replace Isco with Marco Asensio.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have made three changes from the first leg.
Sergi Roberto replaces Aleix Vidal, Javier Mascherano comes in for Andres Iniesta and Gerard Deulofeu is dropped for Andre Gomes.
20:56: BARCELONA TEAM: LIONEL MESSI STARTS
Barcelona Starting XI: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Mascherano, Andre Gomes, Suarez, Messi
Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Denis Suarez, Deulofeu, Alcocer, Digne, Aleix Vidal
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Real Madrid will be starting tonight’s clash with Barcelona without Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo
20:51: REAL MADRID TEAM: NO GARETH BALE
Starting XI: Keylor Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Kovacic, Asensio, Benzema, Vazquez
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Casemiro, Hernandez, Isco, Caballos
20:50: Time for a quick first leg recap now.
Real Madrid ran out comfortable winners at the Nou Camp, with Barcelona being their own worst enemy.
Gerard Pique scored an own-goal to give Los Blancos an early lead, before Lionel Messi equalised with a penalty.
But Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio then hit two absolute beauties to give Real a key first leg lead.
20:40: It has been a tale of two summers for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Zinedine Zidane’s side have strengthened by landing Dani Ceballos and Theo Hernandez.
But Barcelona have lost Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, while the recent signing of Paulinho has certainly raised eyebrows in Catalonia.
20:35: One man who won’t be playing tonight is Cristiano Ronaldo.
The winger has had his five-match ban upheld by Spanish authorities after pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in the first leg.
He isn’t too happy about it either.
“It seems to me exaggerated and ridiculous, this is called persecution,” he said on Instagram.
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Cristiano Ronaldo will be missing tonight for Real Madrid against Barcelona
20:30: Before the serious stuff starts, if any of you are planning on playing El Clasico bingo there are a few things to have on your list.
Expect Lionel Messi to get on the scoresheet. He usually does – particularly in the big games.
Expect lots of diving and rolling about. From both teams. Neither one is ever innocent in these sort of contests.
And expect whistling from the Real crowd if they go a goal down. They’re a hard bunch to please, that lot.
The rest I will leave up to you. Scorecards at the ready…
20:20: Good evening and welcome to Express Sport’s LIVE blog of Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup clash with Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo is missing through suspension but, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale all expected to feature, tonight will not be short of excitement.
Real boast a 3-1 lead after a fine performance in the first leg at the Nou Camp at the weekend.
But Barcelona have shown in the past they have the ability to mount a comeback when the odds are against them.
So sit back, put your feet up and stay with us as La Liga’s two biggest clubs do battle.
