Real Madrid vs Barcelona - El Clasico LIVE: It's Jude Bellingham 1-0 Marcus Rashford as midfield superstar sets up the opener - with Trent Alexander-Arnold sat on the bench

Madrid have tasted blood. And they are going for the jugular. Bellingham sees his shot from range blocked and harmfully deflected for a corner when the move looked far more dangerous.

Xabi Alonso looks to have prepared the perfect gameplan here. Soak up the pressure before exploiting Barcelona's high line.

Don't get too excited just yet Madrid fans. Mbappe has the ball in the back of the net again after a superb piece of play by Jude Bellingham.

The English turns his marker in the middle before playing in his Los Blancos colleague. Mbappe stayed calm to slot past the keeper and net his 11th league goal of the season.

The goal has now been confirmed and it's advantage Madrid.

It's all gone a bit strange after that disallowed goal. Barca are enjoying the lion's share of possession but it's now Madrid's turn to look most threatening on the break.

BLIMEY! WHAT IS GOING ON!

It's been ruled out for offside. Again, not sure if I'm losing my eyesight or the LaLiga officials are having a nightmare because that didn't look offside to me.

It's another reprieve for the Blaugrana. Madrid could be 2-0 here.

I hate to get all Rio Ferdinand about it but Mbappe is stepping up his Ballon d'Or campaign. The Frenchman is scoring for fun right now and has just lashed in the ball on the half volley from about 30 yards.

That wasn't even a chance! Mbappe is unplayable right now.

No control from either side at the minute but Barca look a danger whenever they get into the Madrid half. Yamal has just had a curling effort from the right flank that sailed wide.

It marked the first period in the game where the visitors have started to get on top.

WOW! It's all kicking off. No penalty, says the referee and I've got to say, I'm a bit baffled by that one.

The referee is looking at the incident again on the pitchside monitor. Vinicus kicked the back of Yamal's leg, but it looks like a spot kick to me.

WHAT A START!

Madrid have a penalty. Yamal fouls Vinicus Jr inside the box and the referee points to the spot.

Barca are outraged and there could be a reprieve as Vinicus looks offside in the build-up.

Marcus Rashford has the first opening of the match but his effort is well blocked by Militao. Madrid made a series of mistakes there, giving the ball away a few times before the ball fell to the Man United loanee.

Right, let's go. These games are so often classics. Barca won all four Clasicos last season, and Madrid will be desperate to put that right today.

The home side get the game underway in the Spanish capital. The roof of this stunning stadium is closed and the atmosphere is incredible.

We are just minutes away from kick-off in El Clasico, where Real Madrid host Barcelona in a top-of-the-table clash that could shape the La Liga title race.

The Bernabeu is filling fast, white and blue flags rippling across the stands, and the noise levels rising with every passing minute.

Kick-off at 15:15, and all eyes on Madrid.

A slice of history in Madrid as, for the first time ever, two English players face each other in El Clasico.

Marcus Rashford starts for Barcelona, while Jude Bellingham lines up for Real Madrid, marking a landmark moment for English football abroad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in the Real Madrid squad but not fit to start today’s clash.

The England defender has been out for more than a month with a hamstring injury picked up against Marseille.

He is named among the substitutes as he edges closer to full fitness, and could feature if Madrid need a spark after half-time.

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is banned from the dugout today after Spain’s Administrative Court for Sport rejected the club’s final appeal over his red card against Girona.

He will serve a one-match suspension and watch from another section of the stadium, with assistant Marcus Sorg handling touchline duties.

Flick will still direct tactics remotely but cannot communicate directly with players during play.

It is the biggest game in world football, as El Clasico returns to the Bernabeu with La Liga’s top two separated by just two points.

Real Madrid can open up a five-point gap at the summit if they beat Barcelona this afternoon, while Hansi Flick’s side are aiming to close in on their fiercest rivals despite a mounting injury list and their manager banned from the touchline.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior lead the line for Madrid, who have won 11 of their last 12 in all competitions. Barcelona arrive off a 6-1 Champions League win over Olympiacos and will again turn to Lamine Yamal for inspiration.

The atmosphere in Madrid is electric, with white flags waving, drums rolling, and two of Europe’s heavyweights ready to collide.