Messi bursts forward in full flight before being brought down by Ricardo Carvalho, who earns a yellow for the foul.

Diarra shoulders Messi off the ball, drawing loud boos from the Camp Nou crowd as he halts the Argentine’s run.

Driving down the left, Messi looks to find David Villa in the middle but Carvalho stretches to intercept his pass.

After Marcelo’s failed clearance, Messi and Pedro briefly get in each other’s way before Messi regains control and wins a corner.

Messi storms forward in possession, surrounded by three Real defenders, and Diarra’s attempt to hook the ball away is whistled as a foul.

Carvalho again fouls Messi with a rash challenge near halfway, risking a second yellow but escaping with only a warning.

From the edge of the area, Messi curls a shot that Casillas saves before scrambling to smother the loose ball away from Villa.

Receiving a cross from the right, Messi brings the ball down superbly, touches it past Albiol but flashes his shot just wide of the far post.

Punishing Diarra’s mistake, Messi slides a pass to Villa on the left of the box, whose curling effort is brilliantly tipped away by Casillas.

Messi tries a right-footed shot from distance, forcing Casillas into another sharp save as Barcelona maintain heavy pressure.

In a dominant spell, Messi orchestrates Barcelona’s attacks, pulling the strings as Real Madrid chase shadows.

Diarra clatters into Messi without punishment, while Arbeloa accidentally catches him with his knee as he falls, leaving Messi in pain.

Messi threads a clever pass through to Villa, who is flagged offside before Casillas makes a solid save to deny him.

Carvalho arrives late yet again on Messi, cynically fouling him and somehow avoiding the second yellow that his challenge warrants.

Cristiano Ronaldo clips Messi with a small trip on the right edge of the box, conceding a dangerous free kick.

Xabi Alonso pulls Messi back from behind, earning a yellow card as Barcelona attempt to break.

Iniesta and Busquets combine neatly to release Messi forward, but Real hold their shape and Arbeloa starts a counter.

Busquets swings in a cross towards Messi, whose awkwardly positioned header lacks power and is comfortably gathered by Casillas.

Marcelo slides in on Messi on the slick surface, prompting the crowd to appeal for a red card though the tackle is judged only a foul.

Already booked, Xabi Alonso arrives late on Messi again, conceding another free kick and putting himself in further disciplinary danger.

Messi glides past Carvalho and then leaves Marcelo trailing, but Albiol covers well to snuff out the attack.

Emmanuel Adebayor is booked after yet another late challenge on Messi, his fourth or fifth foul on the Argentine forward.

From around 30 yards, Messi steps up to take a free kick and drills his effort straight at Casillas, who holds comfortably.