After being postponed in October, Barcelona and Real Madrid made their La Liga season's first Clasico at Camp Nou stadium on Wednesday, but the game ended with a disappointing 0-0 draw result for the first time since 2002.

For Real Madrid, Gareth Bale started for the first time in four matches, while Ramos played in his 43rd Clasico, a record for any player in history.

For Barcelona, Sergio Busquets was included in the line-up first announced before he was swapped out for Ivan Rakitic, which Barca claimed was a communication error.

If it was, it was not the first mistake of the night, with a frantic first half.

Real were the better side in the opening half an hour although Luis Suarez might have scored early had he controlled Jordi Alba's cross at the back post.

There was a goalline clearance at both ends as Casemiro's header bounced up and had to be hooked away by Gerard Pique before Thibaut Courtois punched out to Messi, but his shot was blocked by Ramos.

Shortly after the interval, stewards ran on to collect beach balls thrown by audience and Barcelona twice should have scored, only for Lionel Messi and Suarez both to fluff finishes in quick succession.

Bale scored with 15 minutes left but his provider Ferland Mendy was a fraction offside. Neither team wanted to go for broke in the latter stages.

Besides, masked Catalan separatist protesters set bins on fire and threw rocks and glass bottles at police who responded with foam bullets in a street near the stadium.

Forty-six people were lightly injured in the clashes, including eight who needed to be taken to hospital for extra care, local emergency services said.

(With input from AFP)