Barcelona moved to within a point of Real
Madrid at the top of La Liga as they twice
came from behind thanks to a Lionel Messi
hat-trick to edge a thrilling El Clasico 4-3 at
the Santiago Bernabeu.
The sides went in level 2-2 at half-time as a
record 19th goal against Madrid from Messi
cancelled out Karim Benzema's double after
Andres Iniesta had put Barca in front.
Cristiano Ronaldo then put Madrid back in
front from the penalty spot, but the hosts
were reduced to 10-men when Sergio Ramos
pulled down Neymar inside the box 10
minutes later and Messi levelled once more
from the spot.
And the Argentine won the game with
another penalty seven minutes from time
after Iniesta had been felled by Xabi Alonso.
A first defeat for Real in 32 games means
Atletico Madrid remain top of the table
thanks to their better head-to-head record
against Los Blancos with Barca still in third.
"The league starts a new now," said Barca
boss Gerardo Martino.
"More than the mathematical distance we
were behind, the impression was people
wrote us off. Atletico Madrid were always in
the fight and I think that after this result we
are too.
"We knew if we didn't win tonight it was over
for us. We still don't have matters in our
own hands, but we'll now fight till the end."
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile,
lamented Ramos' game-changing red card
when Madrid had just gotten themselves back
in front.
"I haven't seen it again and it is difficult for
me to comment on the decisions of the
referee because there were many.
"However, it was the key moment. We were
winning 3-2 and controlling the game well,
but it is much more difficult to control the
game with a player less."
The game got off to a blistering start as after
Neymar and Benzema had early efforts easily
saved, Barca opened the scoring when Messi
played in Iniesta behind the Real defence
and the Spanish international smashed the
ball in off the underside of the bar.
Benzema had a great chance to equalise five
minutes later when he spooned Angel Di
Maria's cut-back over after a great a jinking
run from the Argentine had taken him past
three Barca defenders.
Messi could then have made it 2-0 when he
fired wide with the type of opening he is
normally deadly with as he raced onto Cesc
Fabregas' fine through ball.
Benzema made amends for his earlier miss
20 minutes in when Victor Valdes just failed
to keep out his header from Di Maria's cross.
The Frenchman then completed a rapid
turnaround for the hosts as Javier
Mascherano misjudged another Di Maria
centre from the left and Benzema took a
touch before firing past the helpless Valdes.
Gerard Pique had to make a vital clearance
off the line to prevent a hat-trick of Di Maria
assists for Benzema.
- Controversial penalty award -
Barca responded before half-time and were
level when Messi controlled a loose ball
inside the area and slotted home at Diego
Lopez's near post.
Benzema could still have put Madrid in front
at the break as his looping header from Dani
Carvajal's cross crept inches past the post.
The first opportunity of the second period
also fell to Benzema after a terrific run and
pass from Gareth Bale, but this time Valdes
managed to make the save low to his right.
Carlo Ancelotti's men did retake the lead on
55 minutes when referee Alberto Undiano
Mallenco controversially awarded a penalty
for a trip on Ronaldo by Alves despite the
contact appearing to take place outside the
area.
Ronaldo was unmoved, though, as he got up
to take hammer the resulting spot-kick low
past Valdes' outstretched right hand.
However, the game turned again 25 minutes
from time when Messi released Neymar and
he was brought down by Ramos.
Real's captain for the evening was shown his
19th red card for Los Blancos for denying a
clear goalscoring opportunity and Messi
converted from the spot to make it 3-3.
Alves then struck the inside of the post from
25 yards as Barca went in search of the goal
that would salvage their title chances.
And they got it when Mallenco awarded a
third penalty of the evening as Iniesta
tumbled inside the area and Messi again
dispatched it perfectly high
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