El Clasico; As It Happened

Messi hatrick sealed the game for Barcelona; nightmare for Real Madrid

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                                   Messi celebrating his goal

Both teams went in to the match to strengthen their position in La liga, Real Madrid which were top of the league with a win would have easily made the gap between them and Barcelona to 9 points, while a win for Barcelona would have the gap to only 1 point.

Andres Iniesta fired Barcelona into the lead after seven minutes with a thunderous left-footed finish from Messi's pass.

Then a Bright response from the Madristas set them up for 2 goals and took them to lead by Karim Benzema.The first from a header which Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes got a glove onto, and the second after neatly controlling and volleying in from close range.

However just before halftime messi scored a sublime equaliser to get the score level to 2-2.

Madrid went into lead after halftime with a controversial penalty give by the Refree where the initial touch was from outside the box. Just like the penalty awarded to barcelona against Manchester City.....Karma?

Sergio Ramos Being sent off

Sergio Ramos was sent off after appearing to pull back Neymar. Seem to be soft penalty nevertheless now Real madrid were to 10 men and a penalty was awarded to Barcelona , which resulted in Messi bringing Barca level from the penalty 3-3

Iniesta was upended in the box by Xabi alonso after he nutmeg Dani Carvajal.

Messi made no mistake converted a second penalty to complete his hat-trick six minutes from time,
To give Barcelona the lead 3-4

Messi clebrating his hattrick

After the match the team Ace  Christiano Ronaldo expressed his frustation at the Refree which according to him killed the game of such high intensity ;

"There were a lot of mistakes for just one game. A match between Real and Barca ought to have a high level of referee," said Ronaldo.

"You can't make correct decisions when you are nervous. It makes me think that it is not just on the field that you win games, a little help from outside helps too.

"My penalty might have been just outside the area, but there are many things that went on. It is difficult when many people didn't want us to win today."

Ronaldo's coach Carlo Ancelotti was more level-headed about Mallenco's decisions, but did agree that Ramos' red card swung the game in Barca's favour.

"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."

This Defeat leaves Real Madrid to 2nd place in La liga with Atlético Madrid at the peak with goal difference.