![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/2.49114268.jpg\")
Barcelona maintained their slender advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga after El Cl\u00e1sico ended goalless for the first time in 17 years.<\/p>\nBarcelona maintained their slender advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga after El Cl\u00e1sico ended goalless for the first time in 17 years.<\/p>\n
Gareth Bale had a second-half effort ruled out for offside by VAR at the Nou Camp, while Barcelona\u2019s best chance fell to Jordi Alba in the first period but he fired wide.<\/p>\n
Barca remain top on goal difference from Real, who dominated a game that had been postponed in October due to safety fears surrounding the violent protests in Catalonia.<\/p>\n
Concerns the game would be disrupted failed to materialize, save for yellow balls hurled on to the pitch by Catalan independence supporters in the second half.<\/p>\n
With more protests planned by Catalan campaigners there was increased security all around the stadium and helicopters buzzed overhead before kick-off.<\/p>\n
Such were the security concerns, both teams had shared the same hotel before the match.<\/p>\n
Thousands of peaceful campaigners protested nearby earlier in the afternoon and throughout the build-up to the game, while a display of Catalonia\u2019s red and yellow colors filled one side of the stadium at kick-off.<\/p>\n
A cagey opening in a volatile atmosphere ensued. Bale was back in Real\u2019s starting line-up, while Ivan Rakitic replaced Sergio Busquets in Barcelona\u2019s midfield.<\/p>\n
Real\u2019s Zinedine Zidane will have been the happier manager at half-time after his side dominated the opening 45 minutes.<\/p>\n
But Alba volleyed the best chance of the first half wide for Barca four minutes before the break following Lionel Messi\u2019s brilliant chipped pass.<\/p>\n
Real skipper Sergio Ramos cleared off the goal-line as Casemiro attempted to thwart Messi in the box, while Barca defender Gerard Pique had earlier done likewise from Karim Benzema\u2019s header.<\/p>\n
Real maintained their high energy levels at the start of the second period as they continued to hog possession and quickly won the ball back when they lost it.<\/p>\n
Despite all Real\u2019s possession, Messi threatened but failed to control Antoine Griezmann\u2019s ball inside the area and then Bale flashed a rising shot just off target at the other end.<\/p>\n
Bale thought he had broken the deadlock in the 72nd minute, but VAR ruled Ferland Mendy was fractionally offside before delivering his pin-point low cross.<\/p>\n
Frenkie De Jong\u2019s long-range effort failed to trouble Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Luis Suarez blazed high and wide from inside the area.<\/p>\n
The game entered the final 10 minutes on a knife-edge, but chances were still hard to come by in both areas and as the clock ticked down neither side was prepared to risk charging forward.<\/p>\n