I dont have a good story to tell this weekend. Karim Benzema scored two for Madrid on the night and Cristiano Ronaldo netted a penalty, but Andres Iniesta, a Messi goal in open play and two further goals from Messi via the penalty spot secured three points for the Catalans. It was one of the best football matches seen anywhere for a long time, with the quality and skill on the pitch oozing from the first minute as the match absolutely lived up to its billing. Barca took the lead in the seventh minute when Messi fed Iniesta though on the left side of the penalty area and he drilled home with his left foot off the underside of the crossbar. Real hit back in the 20th minute when Angel Di Marias precise cross found the head of Karim Benzema – who had missed a sitter moments earlier from the same supplier – and the header was too powerful for Victor Valdes to keep out, 1-1. Four minutes later it was 2-1 to Madrid, again the impressive and relentless Di Maria crossing for Benzema, who expertly controlled on his thigh before smashing a half-volley home. But three minutes before half-time Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Neymar combined through the centre to force home an equaliser, Messi following up the move he started and latching onto the loose ball to finish into the bottom-right corner. Ten minutes after the restart Ronaldo surged into the penalty area and beat Dani Alves with a great piece of footwork, with the Brazilian bringing him down right on the edge of the area. Ronaldo got up and buried the penalty into the bottom-left corner, 3-2. But then eight minutes later came the turning point of the match. A sublime pass from Messi from the centre circle dissected the Real defence as Neymar ran onto the pass. Sergio Ramos clipped the Brazilians heel on the penalty spot as he was about to pull the trigger and was shown a red card. Messi stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball into the right corner, 3-3. Iniesta won another penalty in the 83rd minute when he showed masterful dribbling control to entice Daniel Carvajal and Xabi Alonso to sandwich him on the left side of the box. Messi, who became the all-time leading goalscorer in Clasico history on the night, sealed his hat-trick and the points for Barca by sending the penalty kick into the top-right corner to give Valdes no chance. The result moved Barcelona onto 69 points in La Liga, one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who are both on 70 points
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:03:36 +0000
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