Despite there being not much to play for, Sunday's El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid ended up being one of the best in recent memory.

Four goals, one red card and bags of controversy made for an exhilarating encounter at the Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo once again getting on the scoresheet.

Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Ronaldo equalised with a poacher's tap-in following some lovely build-up play from Real.

Barca then went down to 10 men when Sergi Roberto was shown a straight red card, but they took an unlikely 2-1 lead through Messi just after half-time.

When Suarez dispossessed Raphael Varane in a dangerous area, he squared to Messi who jinked past Sergio Ramos and Casemiro and found the bottom corner with unerring accuracy.

Gareth Bale later salvaged a point for Real by equalising in the 72nd minute yet you could understand Real's players feeling frustrated about the result.

Not only did they have one man extra for a lot of the game, but Suarez seemed to foul Varane in the build-up to Messi's goal.

CONTROVERSY IN EL CLASICO

Suarez put pressure on the Frenchman and hacked him down to win back possession, which the referee probably should have blown for.

Even Suarez has admitted it should have been a free-kick, saying: "It was bit of a foul against Varane.

"He controls the ball and then I put his foot out of place. However, the decision comes down to the referee."

Clearly the referee didn't think it was a foul, but now Marca have revealed something rather interesting about the incident.

Apparently the fourth official told the referee not once, but twice that Suarez had fouled Varane in the build-up to the goal - but he ignored him.

The referee's decision to let play continue infuriated Real players and fans at the time and this latest development will annoy them even more.

Sergio Ramos inevitably had something to say about the decisions that went against his side and actually pinned the blame on Messi.

"Messi put him (the referee) under a bit of pressure in the tunnel," said the Spaniard. "I don't know if there are cameras, maybe he caused him to referee in the second half in a different way.

"He said everything to him. This is football and everything should stay on the pitch."