Lionel Messi wins El Clasico for Barcelona in stoppage time
Lionel Messi slots his 500th goal for Barcelona in its clash against rival Real Madrid. Photo: AAP
A last-minute strike by superstar Lionel Messi has secured a 3-2 win for Barcelona in an El Clasico that more than lived up to its name.
The counter-attacking goal came in stoppage time of a thrilling clash with Real Madrid that saw a bloodied Messi double up, Sergio Ramos get sent off for a two-footed challenge, Ivan Rakitic score a stunner and James Rodrgiuez charge off the bench and straight into the goals.
Messi’s winner was obviously the most pivotal, but perhaps not even his best highlight of the game.
Real’s Casemiro controversially opened the scoring when he knocked home a rebound off the post, before Messi produced his masterpiece.
The Argentine started a 33rd-minute move and glided into the box, making Dani Carvajal look silly with a sharp cut to the left that left the Real defender lunging at thin air, before slotting the equaliser into the bottom-right corner.
Lionel Messi walks with a bandage in his mouth during El Clasico. Photo: AAP
That came while Messi was clutching a bloody bandage, courtesy of a nasty elbow from Marcelo that saw the Barca striker spitting out claret.
Ivan Rakitic’s goal in the 72nd minute also had Messi written all over it, though it was simply an homage.
He received the ball on the right corner of the 18-yard box and faked a right-footed prod before unleashing a monstrous blast past Keylor Navas’ outstretched right hand.
It appeared Barcelona would hang on after Real captain Ramos was sent off five minutes later for a hideous double-footed leap into Messi’s toes.
With time ticking down, Zinedine Zidane played his wildcard, injecting Colombian gun James Rodriguez in the 83rd minute.
Two minutes later he latched onto Marcelo’s cross and squared the ledger at 2-2.
It was not until the 92nd minute that Messi, on the end of a six-on-three long-range counter attack, fired home a first-touch blast to secure a famous win.
The brace gave him 500 goals for Barcelona, which is 268 more than the next best — Cesar’s 232.
He is also the leading all-time scorer in El Clasico fixtures with 16, two ahead of Alfredo Di Stefano.
