10-man Barcelona moved a step closer to an unbeaten season after a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in another eventful edition of El Clasico.
Cristiano Ronaldo cancelled out Luis Suarez’s opener in a first half that became more and more ill-tempered with a rash of yellow cards and a straight red for Sergi Roberto just before the interval.
That left Barca down to ten men for the second half, but Real were also missing their star man as Ronaldo failed to emerge for the second half due to an ankle injury.
Lionel Messi gave Barca a 2-1 lead with a trademark curling finish, but Gareth Bale went one better with a thumping 72nd-minute finish.
Both sides had chances to win it but it finished level to leave champions Barca 12 points clear of Atletico Madrid and 15 points clear of Real Madrid.
More importantly, they're now only three games from becoming the first side to complete an unbeaten LaLiga campaign, but Champions League finalists Real will view the match as a missed opportunity after playing against 10 men for the whole of the second half.
The result leaves Zinedine Zidane's side trailing city rivals Atletico Madrid by three points in the race for second place, albeit with a game in hand.
Suarez swept Barcelona ahead after 10 minutes but Ronaldo tapped in the equaliser four minutes later after Karim Benzema headed Toni Kroos' cross back across goal.
The hosts had Sergi Roberto sent off in first-half stoppage-time following a clash with Real full-back Marcelo, but that did not prevent Messi restoring their lead seven minutes after the interval.
The Argentina forward capitalised on good build-up play by Suarez by cutting onto his left foot and firing past Keylor Navas.
Barca remained a threat on the break despite their numerical disadvantage but Bale equalised when he curled a first-time shot into the corner with 18 minutes remaining.
Both sides pushed for a winner, with Bale firing wide from distance and Paulinho crowded out by the Real Madrid defence in time added on.
