No goals, no VAR and few shots on target in the first goalless Clasico in 17 years
Gareth Bale saw a goal disallowed as Barcelona and Real Madrid played out a 0-0 draw at Camp Nou on Wednesday for the first time since 23 November 2002.
Barcelona and Real Madrid were unable to break the deadlock in a draw that epitomises their respective starts to the season, and seems to indicate this match is not what it used to be. Only goal difference separated them at the top of LaLiga before kick-off and it's the same outcome at the final whistle.
LaLiga's top two went into the contest level on points this season and with 72 wins each from previous league meetings, and there was nothing to separate them in a tense clash in Catalonia, marked with political unrest on the streets but no major issues during the game.
The match was rearranged from October after the initial date became a security risk due to the prospect of Catalan independence protests, and there were fans inside and outside the stadium making their voices heard over one of Spain's most divisive issues.
The action on the pitch was a little less fraught, Bale's second-half strike - ruled out for offside - representing the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in a clash which saw very few shots on target for both teams.
Despite a strong start from the hosts, Madrid controlled the early exchanges and only Gerard Pique's timely intervention on the line denied Casemiro an opening goal with a header.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen beat away another Casemiro effort after Madrid had penalty shouts waved away following a shirt pull on Raphael Varane, who had earlier squared up to Jordi Alba, with some questioning the referee's lack of VAR use in these actions.