Key step in title race: Messi
We went to the Bernabeu to win and to continue to fight for La Liga. There is still a long way to go, but we left with the joy of having taken an important step. LIONEL MESSI
Madrid, April 24: Lionel Messi on Monday hailed Barcelona’s dramatic 3-2 Clasico victory over archrivals Real Madrid as an “important step” in the race for the La Liga title.
Messi’s last-gasp goal marked his 500th for Barcelona and blew the La Liga title race wide open at Real Madrid on Sunday.
Victory takes Barca top of the table thanks to their better head-to-head record with both sides locked on 75 points, but Madrid have a game in hand.
“We went to the Bernabeu to win and to continue to fight for La Liga,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said on his Facebook page.
“There is still a long way to go, but we left with the joy of having taken an important step,” added Messi, the top scorer in La Liga with 31 goals, alongside a photo of himself celebrating one of goals.
Barcelona are bidding for a third straight La Liga and Spanish Cup double. They play Alaves in the Cup final on May 27.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique revelled in turning the tables on bitter rivals Real Madrid. “He is the best player for me in history and I have seen a lot of football,” Enrique said of Messi.
“In modern football when everyone is tactically and physically better he still makes the difference. The fact he has scored his 500th goal shows all of us his as Barca fans are lucky to have him identified with the club,” Enrique added.
The timing of Messi’s strike also saw Barca gain revenge for Sergio Ramos’s stoppage time equaliser in a 1-1 draw when the sides last met back in December.
“It is marvellous for us to win in the 92nd minute. It is something that is normally more a characteristic of our rivals, but we like to do it too,” added Enrique.
By contrast, Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was left to lament his side’s over adventurous nature after conceding in stoppage time after being reduced to 10 men. “Drawing the game with 10 men, to press high up the field is dangerous and we paid for that,” Zidane said.
“I can’t criticise the players for anything though. We gave our all, but we didn’t manage to get the three points. We didn’t deserve to lose, but that is football,” he added.
Madrid now need to take at least 16 points from their final six La Liga games to be guaranteed the title. “There will be much more of a title race, but it is still in our own hands,” added Zidane.
Madrid were also dealt a fresh injury blow for the remainder of their league season and upcoming Champions League semifinals against Atletico Madrid as Gareth Bale faces another spell on the sidelines. — AFP