MADRID -- Three quick thoughts from a wild Clasico at the Bernabeu as Barcelona grabbed a late 3-2 win at Real Madrid ...
1. Barcelona back in the title race
Lionel Messi's injury-time winner kept Barcelona in hunt for La Liga following the Argentina international's winning goal with the very last touch of the game, which sends his side to the top of the standings, albeit with Madrid having a game in hand.
The most entertaining Clasico in recent seasons was packed with incidents and talking points; the first half flew by as Casemiro put Madrid in front and Messi equalised for the visitors. The second period was just as dramatic, as Ivan Rakitic fired Barca 2-1 ahead and Sergio Ramos was sent off (again) for hacking down Messi before substitute James Rodriguez appeared from nowhere to make it 2-2.
Luis Enrique's side looked devastated but had enough energy for one last attack, and their talisman arrived. Messi darted in from 15 yards and showed tremendous composure to steer a low shot past Keylor Navas to get them a crucial three points and more or less save their season.
Madrid had the better of the opening stages, with Cristiano Ronaldo having a convincing penalty appeal turned down by referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez inside three minutes, and they deservedly took the lead on 28 minutes. Barca's defending was poor as first, Marc-Andre ter Stegen punched a corner straight to Marcelo and then nobody picked up either Ramos, who turned the cross against a post, or Casemiro, who was free 3 yards out to tap the rebound into an empty net.
Yet Barca's reaction to the goal was good as Messi equalised within five minutes. Again the defending might have been better as both Madrid centre-backs were drawn out of position, leaving only Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal for the the Barca legend to slalom around before finishing clinically past Navas.
There was more frantic end to end stuff in the second half, with ter Stegen the busier goalkeeper and saving well to deny Toni Kroos and Benzema. Navas also did very well to deny Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez while at the other end, Ronaldo was quiet after his midweek heroics: he should really have scored when Marco Asensio unselfishly set him up eight yards out.
With 18 minutes left, Rakitic turned both Kroos and Marcelo and cracked a sweet left-footed shot beyond Navas from 20 yards. Barca looked good to preserve their 2-1 lead in the closing stages, even more so when Madrid captain Sergio Ramos soon saw a well-deserved straight red card -- the 22nd of his career, and fifth in a Clasico -- for a shocking two-footer on Messi near the halfway line.
Andre Gomes really should have made it 3-1, but Navas saved again. It seemed like a crucial miss as minutes later, Marcelo's cross found substitute James unmarked at the near post to guide the ball to the net and send the Bernabeu crowd wild.
But Messi had the final say and as a result, the teams are now level at the top on 75 points with five rounds left in the season. Madrid's game in hand is at Celta Vigo in the last week of the campaign but Barca have a better goal difference and, crucially, the head-to-head record. They can also rest up while Los Blancos face neighbours Atletico Madrid over what are sure to be two gruelling Champions League semifinal legs in the coming weeks.
2. Messi battered, bruised and brilliant
After Barcelona's Champions League exit to Juventus last week, there was a lot of talk about how Messi hadn't scored in either leg against the Italians, and then about how he had not netted in any of his last six Clasicos. But the blaugrana's talisman was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch today.
An outstanding first half display included tormenting Madrid's holding midfielder Casemiro, who was booked for one early foul and very fortunate not to get another yellow later. Real left-back Marcelo also got away with a flying elbow that caught Messi flush in the face, meaning he still had a bloody tissue in his nose as he scored the equaliser.
Even before half-time, Messi might have made it 2-1 to the visitors as he sliced through the Madrid defence again but Carvajal just managed to deflect his shot wide. Messi then missed from closer range after Navas had flapped at a corner kick.
He was then involved (albeit inadvertently) in the key goal. It was his poor ball control that moved the ball to Rakitic and put the Madrid defence off balance. He was also the recipient of the two-footed lunge from Ramos that saw the Madrid captain sent off.
James' late equaliser made it seem as if all Messi's effort (and bruises) were for nothing, but with the last kick of the game he ensured this game was all about him.
3. Madrid's galacticos all out-done
Real coach Zinedine Zidane is a big believer in dressing-room hierarchies, being a former galactico himself, and there was no surprise when €100 million man Gareth Bale was named in the starting XI despite limited training since picking up his latest calf injury at Bayern Munich on April 12.
Bale was a peripheral figure through the first half-hour, ineffective on both the left wing and the right wing before sitting down on the pitch and calling for attention. The Wales international had his hand to the often troublesome left calf muscle and was soon limping down the Bernabeu tunnel to be replaced by youngster Marco Asensio.
Another star signing, €80m James Rodriguez, was probably not too happy with that decision although the Colombia international has done little over recent months (or seasons) in big games to merit a pick. He came good on Sunday, though: The timing of his run and technique in his finish were both top-drawer.
Messi's late winner turned the focus back on Zidane's selections as his team's big names, including Ronaldo, had not done enough. As usual, he was not so involved in open play but when big chances came his way tonight, he could not put them away.