Lionel Messi’s 92nd-minute strike broke Real Madrid hearts as Barcelona stunned their arch-rivals 3-2 in the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to go top of the La Liga table, with the 29-year-old Argentine proving once again just why he is considered the best player in the world.
Messi struck a brilliant brace, neutralising Casemiro’s opener in the 33rd minute, slaloming past Madrid defenders before beating Navas with a cool finish but it was his second, deep in injury-time that proved that when he wants to be, he can be unstoppable.
Credit must be given to Sergi Roberto, as the Barcelona full-back started the attack brilliantly, accelerating past a few Madrid defenders before spreading the ball to the left wing. Jordi Alba looked up once, saw Messi making his run and sent in a perfectly weighted cut-back which the Argentine struck home for his 31st league goal of the season.
Barely minutes earlier, the visitors had a look of despair around them as substitute James Rodiriguez seemed to have forced a share of the spoils with his 86th minute strike. Marcelo had made an overlapping run and sent in a bouncing ball which was guided into the back of the net by Rodriguez to get the Bernabeu roaring again, for after captain Sergio Ramos’ dismissal in the 78th minute, the home fans seemed to have lost their voice.
Ramos had needlessly slid in dangerously on Messi near the halfway line, leaving match referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez with no chance but to give the defender his marching orders.
Madrid started with their famed ‘BBC’ at the tip of their 4-3-3 formation but Zinedine Zidane’s gamble on Gareth Bale went awry as the Welshman was unable to continue after having played barely half an hour. Marco Asensio came on and while the young winger had a fine game, questions will be asked of the French tactician as to why he was not given the start ahead of the obviously-unfit Bale, especially as Asensio has been in fine form in recent weeks.
Barcelona had confirmed Neymar’s three-match suspension had not been overturned prior to the match and Paco Alcacer started in his stead, with the rest of the line up unchanged from their scoreless draw against Juventus in the Champions League.
The first-half began with some brilliant end-to-end action, with both keepers being called upon on several occasions. Casemiro took advantage of some slack defending to turn home Ramos’ shot which came off the post in the 28th minute but Messi’s leveller five minutes later ensured that Barcelona always were in the tie.
The second period began with Madrid pressing the Catalans high up the pitch but Cristiano Ronaldo was having a rare off day, seemingly unable to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen on several occasions. In fact, Asensio laid it in a plate for Ronaldo in the 67th minute, but somehow the Portuguese sent his tap-in over the bar to let Barcelona off the hook.
And when Ivan Rakitic scored a golazo in the 71st minute, one sensed the momentum had shifted to the visitors. The Croatian had not been having a good game but all that was forgotten when his left-footed shot from outside the box rifled past Keylor Navas to put Barcelona ahead for the first time.
Yet despite being a man down after Ramos’s dismissal, Madrid didn't give up and had looked like they had salvaged a draw when James came off the bench to equalise with a well-taken volley, but they hadn't accounted for the genius of Messi. The Argentine scored his 500th goal in a Barcelona jersey in stunning fashion, arriving in the box at the right time to beat Navas and put the Catalans on top of the table with just five matches remaining.
While Real still have a game in hand, the pressure is well and truly on them and since Barcelona have a better head-to-head, they will be under the spotlight as they know another loss could scupper their chances of winning their first league title since 2012.