On This Day: Lionel Messi scored a sensational goal in the last minute to defeat Real Madrid in the tensest El Clasico of 2017.
Lionel Messi is the biggest nemesis of Real Madrid since last two decades as the Barcelona captain has given biggest shocks to them in his 16-year-long career.
But nothing comes close what Messi did on this day, exactly three years ago. Real Madrid hosted Barcelona for the second Clasico of the league and with all the crowd supporting Los Blancos they couldn’t prevent the magic Messi was about to deliver.
The Argentine International was running riot on the pitch and even forced Casemiro to make several fouls on him as his dribbles were impossible to stop.
However, Real Madrid got the first lead in the goal after Casemiro scored while Barcelona’s defence got nervous for a moment. But Messi took no time to settle as he scored in the 33rd minute with a deceiving first touch and smashing the ball past Keylor Navas.
After this, for a long period of time, both teams started to vie in the middle of the pitch, but soon Sergio Ramos made a double footed tackle on Messi, which gave him a direct red card and it changed the rest of the game.
With Ramos out, the Catalans had more control in the game, and it affected, even more, when Ivan Rakitic scored a stunner in the 73rd minute to give a lead to Barcelona.
But this was short-lived as the substitute James Rodriguez scored from a cross by Marco Asensio. The game seemed to be settled with a 2-2 scoreline and it looked Real Madrid would be satisfied with the scoreline.
But destiny had other plans, Sergi Roberto rose to the moment and made an extraordinary 50-metre run while outpacing Marcelo to find the gaps in Real Madrid’s defence.
He passed the ball to Andre Gomes, who saw Jordi Alba overlapping and as usual, the Spanish left-back found his partner Messi and delivered a grounded cross.
The 6 times Balon D’or winner looked more dangerous than ever before and smashed the ball towards the goal while Real Madrid’s defence looked helpless with what was coming.
The moment was poetic, Madridistas fans raising in disbelief, Barcelona fans overjoyed with what they were looking at as the ball touched the net to give Barcelona the win from which turned out to be the last kick of the game.
Watch the goal
Messi ran with all glory, pulled his jersey from his shoulders and made the whole Santiago Bernabeu look at the jersey, while he showed his scar near the eye which he got after Marcelo hit his elbow on him earlier in the game.
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That night, the whole of Madrid witnessed something special yet decisive against them. However, this defeat did pressure Los Blancos in the league but ultimately sealed the title in the next games, but this night was truly haunting for them.
