Late raid by Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos rattles Barcelona

Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 1: Real Madrid dug out a draw in Saturday afternoon’s ‘Clasico’ at Barcelona to remain in control of the La Liga title race - and leave further questions hanging around Luis Enrique’s future at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona seemed to be back in the La Liga hunt as they led through Luis Suarez’s header just after half-time - only for Blancos skipper Sergio Ramos to head yet another crucial late equaliser.

For a long time Suarez’s goal looked enough for a Barca victory which would have arrested a feeling that they are on the slide.

But everything just keeps working out somehow for Zinedine Zidane’s team, who remain unbeaten in all competitions this season.

The draw keeps them six points clear in the table and on course for a first La Liga title since 2011/12.

The Frenchman said afterwards that his side had shown character to keep going until the end, as they have when winning two of the last three Champions League finals.

“We kept going and the heart of this team has stood out again,” Zidane said.

“After what we have achieved together, we believe until the end. And we got a draw which is important, it is not easy to get points here.”

The game was far from a classic, with Zidane’s side outplayed for long periods in the second half.

Barca stars Lionel Messi and Neymar both missed golden chances to make it 2-0, as Madrid struggled without the injured Gareth Bale, and finished with unproven youngster Mariano Diaz in attack.

Zidane keeps changing his starting side, and still lacks a preferred tactical philosophy or formation, but he said afterwards that with such a deep squad that flexibility was an advantage.

“We’ve many different players, who can bring you different things, if you change the shape of the team,” he said. “That’s a positive for us.”

He stressed: “There’s still a long way to go. We’ll need all our players from here until the end of the season.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a quiet game on Saturday.

But Madrid have also shown resilience to dig deep and fight in big games – with different stars coming up trumps on different days even if they can look unconvincing against more run of the mill opponents.

Saturday’s man of the match was Luka Modric, who began in a deep midfield shielding role, then finished as the creator who assisted in the build up to the Ramos equaliser. The Croatia international said that once everyone in the squad worked hard, the team was difficult to beat.

“I always say that we have so many world class players,” Modric said.

“If we play as a team and put everything into the games, it is very difficult to beat us. We must do that in every game, not just the Clasico or against Atletico [Madrid]. Now we’re in very good form, we’re feeling confident and we must keep going like this and not drop off.”

Meanwhile Barca look in increasing disarray. More damaging than the six point gap is a feeling they lack a uniting idea of how the team should play, and are totally reliant on an attacking superstar doing something special.

That has not happened enough lately, with just two goals in total scored in their last three La Liga games - all draws. At his post-match news conference Luis Enrique found himself arguing with local reporters who disagreed with his selection and substitutions.

“I think we deserved to win,” the feisty Asturian said. “We had the game in our hands, but we couldn’t kill it off. You wouldn’t be asking me these questions if the game ended on 89 minutes.”

Such arguments convinced few of his doubters at the Camp Nou, esapecially as Madrid had got their reward on Saturday for sticking right in it until the end.