Messi and Ronaldo on target as Real Madrid and Barcelona draw El Clasico

Messi and Ronaldo on target as Real Madrid and Barcelona draw El Clasico

Barcelona took a giant stride towards a third straight La Liga title with a 1-1 against 10-man Real Madrid that preserves their eight-point lead over their arch rivals with six games left.

In a tense encounter at the Bernabéu, the first of four clashes between the teams in three competitions in 18 days, Lionel Messi scored from the spot in the 53rd minute after Raul Albiol was sent off for a foul on David Villa in the area.

Barça looked to be cruising towards a sixth consecutive victory in El Clasico under coach Pep Guardiola when Dani Alves felled Marcelo and the referee awarded another penalty, converted by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The equaliser lifted Real and their Germany midfielder Sami Khedira had a great chance to win the match in the final minute but shot straight at Victor Valdes.