It was ‘clasico’ Messi
MADRID — Lionel Messi took off his shirt and lifted it high in front of him, boldly displaying his name and number to the stunned soccer crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
He stood there for a few seconds, staring at the fans, as if making sure they knew who was really in charge.
Messi had just scored a lastminute goal that gave Barcelona a crucial 3-2 come-from-behind win against Real Madrid, putting the Catalan club back in the Spanish league title race and adding to his dominance in the “clasico.”
There’s been no one better than Messi when the two Spanish powerhouses meet. He now has 23 goals in games between the two clubs, five more than Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano and eight more than Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Ronaldo faltered throughout Sunday’s game at the Bernabeu, failing to score goals that could have given his team a commanding lead over its rival in the league standings, Messi came through for Barcelona once again.
He also scored the team’s first goal, helped set up the second by Ivan Rakitic and drew the foul that led to a red card for Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, leading Barcelona to a victory that reignited its chances of winning a third straight league trophy.
“Leo’s greatness is that he keeps surprising us,” Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta said. “After years and years, he continues to be decisive.”
Messi’s late winner allowed Barcelona to tie Madrid at 75 points on top of the Spanish league standings with five rounds to go. Barcelona has the lead on the head-to-head tiebreaker, but Madrid still has a game in hand, at Celta Vigo.
“Messi was decisive, as he always is,” Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said. “He makes the difference.”
Messi is enjoying another remarkable season, with 47 goals in 46 games. He has scored 14 goals in his past 10 Spanish league games, and is the competition’s leading scorer with 31 goals, seven more than teammate Luis Suarez and 12 more than Ronaldo.
Messi had been going through a drought in the clasico, unable to find the net in six straight games. The last time he had scored against Madrid was in the form of a hat trick at the Bernabeu in a 4-3 win in the league in 2014.
Messi ended that drought by sending a low shot past Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the first half at the Bernabeu. His second goal decided the game, a left-footed shot with 12 seconds left in stoppage time after a pass by Jordi Alba.
Messi’s celebration, parading his shirt, sparked a fierce reaction from many Madrid fans on the stands behind the goal, where only a few people wearing Barcelona colours could be seen. The visitors’ section was behind that same goal, but in the opposite side of where Messi ran to celebrate. Messi eventually was shown a yellow card for taking off his shirt.
The two goals Sunday gave the 29-year-old Messi 500 for his career with Barcelona, the most of any other player who has ever played for the club.