MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates as he scores their third goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Bernabeu on April 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
Lionel Messi accomplished a major feat on Sunday by recording his 500th goal for Barcelona with a dramatic game-winner in a 3-2 La Liga road victory against Real Madrid.
The 29-year-old Argentine forward first scored a game-tying goal in El Clasico to make it 1-1 in the 33rd minute, but he hit the 500-goal mark with his victory-sealing tally in injury time (92nd minute) as Madrid played at its own stadium with 10 men, after Sergio Ramos was given a red card for a brutal diving tackle in the 77th minute.
It is quite impressive that Messi has reached the 500-goal mark in just 577 appearances for Barcelona, which he joined at the age of 13 in 2001. The Argentina international has scored 343 goals in La Liga, 94 in the UEFA Champions League, 43 in the Copa del Rey, 12 in the Supercopa de Espana, five in the Club World Cup and three in the UEFA Super Cup. Messi is six behind longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League after Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward scored his 100th goal in the European tournament in Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Bayern Munich.
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Real Madrid’s Casemiro was lucky to not also be sent off after he took down Messi twice. The Brazilian defensive midfielder opened scoring for the hosts in the 28th minute before Messi equalized five minutes later and then Ivan Rakitic put Barcelona ahead 2-1 in the second half just four minutes before Ramos was sent off.
Marcelo also landed a nasty hit on Messi. The Real Madrid defender from Brazil left the Argentine star with a bloodied mouth after elbowing him.
Substitute James Rodriguez scored for Real Madrid to tie it 2-2 in the 85th minute, but the threat proved insufficient for the hosts after Messi delivered his fantastic one-time strike from the center of the penalty box following an assist from the left wing by Jordi Alba. Sergi Roberto also helped set up the play for the game-winner by racing down the middle of the field from Barcelona’s side and feeding the ball to Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes. After a bit of ball-handling, Gomes tapped the ball to Alba before the Spanish defender kicked the ball to Messi to secure the victory.
Real Madrid lost Welsh forward Gareth Bale due to injury in the first half.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen made 12 saves for Barcelona on Sunday, the most by a goalkeeper for the Catalan club in La Liga since the 2003-04 season.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said he was thrilled with his team’s performance, but that the club must be cautious as the season near its end.
“We are first now but Madrid have an extra game. It will be tight until the end. We got the result we came here for,” said Enrique. “This is a season that weighs on us like five. So many things have happened, good things, not so good things, things I’ve already forgotten.
“The 2-2 goal was a terrible blow but players were able to come back in the last breath – the happy ending that we all wanted at Barcelona.”
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, meanwhile, said he felt nothing had changed. “Nothing changes now,” the Frenchman said. “Maybe after today the league will be more open. But we still depend on ourselves.”
Barcelona, who were missing Brazilian star Neymar due to suspension on Sunday, are at the top of the Spanish league standings with 75 points, 33 games played and a 62-goal difference, while Real Madrid are second with 75 points as well, but 32 games played and 48-goal difference.
Atletico Madrid is third with 68 points, while Sevilla (65 points) and Villarreal (57 points) round out the top five.
Barcelona next host Osasuna on Wednesday and visit Espanyol on Saturday. Real Madrid will visit Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday and host Valencia on Saturday.
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