El Clasico Barcelona vs Real Madrid: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on, where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the La Liga clash at the Nou Camp
What time does it start?
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Your support makes all the difference.The 232nd Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be held on Saturday 3 December at 3.15pm GMT at the Nou Camp, Barcelona.
Where can I watch it?
Unfortunately, it will not be shown on television in the UK.
You will, however, be able to follow The Independent’s live coverage on our blog.
Why is it not on TV?
It is illegal to broadcast live football matches on UK television between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays due to the potential impact on match attendances.
Ironically, the 3.15pm kick-off time was chosen in order to maximise the global television audience.
If you live elsewhere in the world, you can find information on where to watch the game here.
Follow it live...
What does the league table look like?
Predictably, these two sit at the top of La Liga, but it’s the reigning Spanish champions who are playing catch up.
Barcelona are five points off Real Madrid, who remain unbeaten in all competitions under Zinedine Zidane this season.
Luis Enrique's side have already lost twice in the league, against Alaves and Celta Vigo, and suffered defeat to Manchester City in Champions League.
What happened last time?
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 2
La Liga, April 2016
One of the more memorable Clasico's in recent years saw Barcelona's 39-game unbeaten run ended by a depleted Real Madrid at Nou Camp.
Cristiano Ronaldo's late strike granted victory to the visitors, who had seen Sergio Ramos pick up a customary red card just minutes earlier.
Gerard Pique's header had put Barça ahead, only for Karim Benzema to level with an acrobatic finish.
The three points did not help Real's wiltering title challenge but Los Blancos were spurred on the Champions League glory, which came against rivals Atletico in Milan a month later.
Make your prediction...
What's the form?
Barcelona: WWWDD
Real Madrid: WWWWW
What are the odds?
Barcelona: 11/12
Draw: 13/4
Real Madrid: 16/5
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of El Clasico.
That's right, the first Clasico of the season kicks off at 3.15pm today - not that you'd know it from flicking through the TV Times.
The match is not being aired on television in the UK because of the blackout of live football between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays.
Not to worry, though. We'll have build-up and live minute-by-minute updates right here.
Team news
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, S. Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, A. Gomes, Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
Substitutes: Cillessen, Denis, Arda, Iniesta, Alcacer, Digne, Umtiti.
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic; Vazquez, Isco, Ronaldo; Benzema.
Substitutes: Casilla, Pepe, Nacho, James, Casemiro, Mariano, Asensio.
So, there's an interesting team news line.
No Andres Iniesta in Barcelona's starting line-up. Andre Gomes starts in his place, but elsewhere it's as expected.
For Madrid, Casemiro is on the bench, despite acquitting himself so well in Madrid's victory at the Nou Camp last season. Pepe is also among the substitutes.
Lionel Messi captains Barcelona in a Clasico for the first time today.
The little magician has not scored in his last five games against Madrid.
