Barca president Joan Laporta and his Real counterpart Ramon Calderon are all smiles before kick-off at the Camp Nou

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is in the thick of "El Clasico" action from the start as he challenges Real Madrid's Fabiano Eller

Messi is again at the centre of attention in front of a 95,000 crowd as he vies with Madrid defender Sergio Ramos

Tempers start to flare and Barcelona's Rafael Marquez is booked for a foul on Gonzalo Higuain

Barcelona's Carlos Puyol and Rafael Marquez show their determination to get to the ball first

Lionel Messi is closely marked by the Real defenders all game and feels the weight of a tackle by Wesley Sneijder

Real keeper Iker Casillas keeps his side in the game with a penalty save from Samuel Eto'o on 69 minutes

Carlos Puyol celebrates a key role in Barcelona's opening goal seven minutes from time when his header is guided in by Eto'o

Messi spots Casillas off his line in stoppage time to chip him and make it 2-0 to the home side

Messi's goal, set up by Thierry Henry, helps Barca go eight points clear at the top and leaves Real languishing 12 points back