Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the 2nd clasico 4-3

SB Nation 

Lionel Messi's hat trick helped Barca earn a massive victory over Real Madrid in the latest edition of El Clásico.

Barcelona defeated Real Madrid thanks to a late Lionel Messi penalty in one of the greatest Clásico matches in recent memory. The game had just about everything over the 90 minutes including a hat trick, three penalties, a red card and some spectacular goals.

The match got off to a nice, energetic start with both teams getting good chances to grab an early goal.Lionel Messi hit Neymar with a well-played pass in the fourth minute but the Brazilian's shot from a tough angle was covered up by Diego Lopéz. A minute later, a slightly hobbled Karim Benzema grabbed a poor pass in the Barca box but sent his shot well wide.

The fact that Messi and Neymar were able to counter quickly against the Madrid defense was a warning, but the lesson wasn't learned by Los Blancos. In the seventh minute, Messi found Andrés Iniesta on the left side of the box and the Spaniard did not waste his chance. Iniesta's shot went up and over Lopéz's shoulder, and into the top right corner of the goal, giving Barcelona an early 1-0 lead.

Benzema again wasted a wonderful chance in the 13th minute, skying a low cross from Ángel di María well over the crossbar.

Finally in the 20th minute, Benzema proved that third time is indeed the charm. Di María set up the chance, sending in an exquisite cross from the left wing that Benzema rose to meet. The striker's header was well placed, but Victor Valdés will be annoyed with himself as the ball bounced off his gloves and over the line to pull the Merengues even at 1-1.

Four minutes later Di María and Benzema connected again, giving Madrid their first lead of the day. Benzema somehow managed to control Di María's cross with his thigh, spinning the ball up in the air and rocketing a volleyed shot past Valdés, making it 2-1. 

Benzema was denied a hat trick in the 26th minute when, you guessed it, Di María found the striker with a cross from the left. Benzema settled the ball and fired a shot that was blocked off the line by Gerard Piqué.

Just before the halftime break, Messi jumped on a loose ball in the Madrid box and directed a low shot past López to even the match at 2-2. Messi sent the initial ball in to Neymar, who managed to return the favor just ahead of a lunge from Dani Carvajal. Messi darted in front of Sergio Ramos, who did move quickly enough to make a clearance and used the pocket of space in front of goal to tie things up.

The goal pulled Messi even with Hugo Sanchez on the La Liga all-time scoring list (234) and moved him ahead of Alfredo Di Stéfano for the all-time goal-scoring lead in Clásicos (19).

Gareth Bale's first good contribution to the match arrived in the 52nd minute when the Welshman made a lightning quick run through the defense, sending a pass to Benzema as the striker broke into the Barca box. Valdés was ready though, blocking Benzema's shot away.

Cristiano Ronaldo finally got the penalty he's been shouting about since the first Clásico of the season in the 55th minute when he tripped over Dani Alves' foot on the edge of the box. The referee wasted no time pointing to the spot and the Portuguese striker finished things off himself, beating Valdés low and to the left to make it 3-2.

Barca wasn't done though and in the 63rd minute, Sergio Ramos made some contact with Neymar in the box, denying a goal-scoring opportunity and bringing out a red card. Madrid fans won't be thrilled with the call, but Barca didn't care as Messi stepped up and just beat López to again even the match, this time at 3-3.

Dani Alves nearly pushed Barca back in front in the 74th minute, pinging a shot off the post ... but the goal would come. Xabi Alonso brought down Iniesta as the Barca midfielder tried to jump past him on the right side of the box. A penalty was quickly given, much to the chagrin of Alonso and his teammates. Messi coolly stepped up and completed his hat trick, giving Barca a 4-3 lead.

With the Barca victory, Real Madrid suddenly find their lead at the top of the table gone as Atlético Madrid take over first place on a tiebreaker. Barcelona, meanwhile, resuscitated their league campaign, pulling within a point of both the Madrid sides.

Real Madrid: López, Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Carvajal, Modrić (Morata 90'), Alonso, Di María (Isco 85'), Ronaldo, Benzema (Varane 66'), Bale

Goals: Benzema (20', 24'), Ronaldo (55')

Barcelona: Valdés, Alba, Mascherano, Piqué, Alves, Busquets, Fàbregas (Sánchez 78'), Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Neymar (Pedro 68')

Goals: Iniesta (7'), Messi (42', 65', 84')

Neymar shines in El Clasico as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1

Neymar showed his best when it matters most.  He showed his mettle no less than this year's first El Clasico between bitter rivals Real Madrid and his team Barcelona. 

Neymar struggled for most part of his career in Barcelona having difficulty in finding the back of the net.  He is permanently hounded by his opponents, often at the receiving end of brutal and physical fouls just to prevent him from scoring for Barcelona.  

But it was different on Sunday night, receiving a pass from Andres Iniesta who was swarmed by Real Madrid defenders in the middle in the 19th minute, Neymar displaying his trademark superior dribbling slotted a goal after his shot bounced between the legs of Daniel Carvajal as Barcelona lead Real Madrid by  a goal at the half. 

Neymar almost padded his goal and his teams lead when in the 54th minute, Andres Iniesta lobbed Neymar to the left that resulted in Neymar's brokeaway from Rafael Varane.  Neymar's rifle was however blocked by Diego Lopez. 

Real Madrid on the other hand, fought toe to toe throughout the game. It even dominated possession with its pinpoint passing and aggressive tackling and interceptions.  Its heads up play was almost rewarded when in the 58th minute Cristiano Ronaldo's on target shot was blocked by Basilio Valdes.  In the 72nd minute, Real Madrid almost equalized with Barcelona when Karim Benzema fired a cracker just outside the penalty box that rattled the crossbar.   

However, it was Barcelona who got the better luck of the game.  In the 78th minute,  substitute Alexi Sanchez received a through ball from Neymar.  Sanchez broke away from his marker Rafael Varane and engaged him in a one on one play. Sanchez controlled the ball and squared as if to penetrate the penalty area, but sensing that Diego Lopez came near for a possible sweep or block, Sanchez took a chance and fired a chip shot. Diego Lopez hand was unable to reach the high arching ball and the ball found the back of the net and sent the crowd at Camp Nou in frenzy.  Sanchez shot is one of the most beautiful and memorable goal scored by Barca this season. 

Cristiano Ronaldo on the other hand, spent most of the last ten minutes of the game ranting and complaining about a penalty not given to him after he was fouled by Adriano inside the box.  His rant continues even after the Sanchez goal that earned the ire of the official. Cristiano Ronaldo was booked for his insistent rants. 

Real Madrid finally broke into the scoring table after a fierce counter attack involving Ronaldo and substitute Jese Rodriguez. After receiving the rebound, Ronaldo raced towards the Barca goal and then squared to a streaking Jese Rodriguez to smash the ball into the net before a hapless Basilio Valdes. 

With the win, Barcelona further broke away from Real Madrid by earning additional three points.  The win is also the first for coach Gerardo Tata Martino who like Neymar made their debut to the El Clasico.