Barca, Real share spoils in rare goalless 'Clasico'
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT
VIDEO SHOWS: STILL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CLASICO BETWEEN REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA WHICH FINISHED 0-0
SHOWS: BARCELONA, SPAIN (DECEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
BARCELONA V REAL MADRID (WHITE SHIRTS)
1. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BARCELONA TEAM POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPH BEFORE THE MATCH
2. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF REAL MADRID POSING FOR A TEAM PHOTOGRAPH BEFORE THE MATCH
3. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF FANS IN THE NOU CAMP HOLDING UP BANNERS IN SUPPORT OF CATALAN INDEPENDENCE
4. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BOTH TEAMS LINED UP ON PITCH WITH BARCELONA FANS HOLDING UP PIECES OF COLOURED PAPER TO SHOW THE CATALAN COLOURS
5. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF SIGNS, READING: "#SPAINSITANDTALK" AND "FREEDOM"
6. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPION, MARC MARQUEZ KICKING A BALL BEFORE KICKOFF
7. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF REAL MADRID'S ISCO (LEFT) AND BARCELONA'S ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (RIGHT) STANDING ON THE PITCH IN FRONT OF FANS HOLDING UP BANNERS AND THE ESTELADA FLAG IN SUPPORT OF CATALAN INDEPENDENCE
8. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BARCELONA'S LIONEL MESSI SHIELDING THE BALL FROM REAL MADRID'S SERGIO RAMOS (RIGHT) AND GOALKEEPER THIBAUT COURTOIS
9. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF MESSI BATTLING FOR THE BALL WITH REAL MADRID'S CASERMIRO
10. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF RAMOS RUNNING WITH THE BALL
11. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF REAL MADRID'S GARETH BALE (RIGHT) STRIKING THE BALL PAST BARCELONA GOALKEEPER MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN AND INTO THE NET. BUT THE GOAL IS RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE
12. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BALL IN THE NET
13. TWO STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF BALE REACTING TO THE ASSISTANT REFEREE (NOT IN SHOT) GIVING THE OFFSIDE FLAG AND DISALLOWING THE GOAL
14. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF MESSI STRIKING A FREE KICK AS THE REAL MADRID PLAYERS TRY TO BLOCK IT
15. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BARCELONA DEFENDER, GERARD PIQUE HEADING THE BALL OFF THE LIVE
16. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BARCELONA STRIKER, LUIS SUAREZ WALKING ON THE PITCH AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE
17. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF RAMOS AND COURTOIS ON THE PITCH AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE
STORY: Real Madrid outplayed Barcelona for large parts of Wednesday's top-of-the-table La Liga clash but were unable to make their dominance count and the 'Clasico' ended goalless to leave the Catalans top of the standings on goal difference.
Both sides had shots cleared off the goalline while Real's Gareth Bale did manage to put the ball in the net after the interval but his strike was narrowly ruled out for offside and the fixture ended scoreless for the first time since November 2002.
The match was rescheduled from Oct. 26 due to the political turmoil that gripped Catalonia after separatist leaders were given lengthy jail sentences two months ago and it kicked off amid a protest in favour of independence near the stadium.
The draw left Barca top with 36 points after 17 games, with Real also on 36, five clear of third-placed Sevilla.
(Production: Tim Hart)
