Messi to remain at Barca until 2021

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEVVNMuu5CfJGDhEftXW3DNplsfZLupg5Ksz78GLhqKjVc06eMKIB-bGeJ4ca-MoKE9SE6GyA5FbqplM_9CvRqB6EetdhKTdJnU-X-jeQ9uU17hw0UtjkHt0o5_fBt6EH5mXgNvawAq8y/s1600/b0597c2a8c15fa2e6024226676b14fbf-MEssitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="643" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEVVNMuu5CfJGDhEftXW3DNplsfZLupg5Ksz78GLhqKjVc06eMKIB-bGeJ4ca-MoKE9SE6GyA5FbqplM_9CvRqB6EetdhKTdJnU-X-jeQ9uU17hw0UtjkHt0o5_fBt6EH5mXgNvawAq8y/s320/b0597c2a8c15fa2e6024226676b14fbf-MEssitt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Lionel Messi has agreed to stay at FC Barcelona until 2021 in a deal that all but commits the star striker to playing out the rest of his top-flight career at the Spanish giants.<br /> <br /> The megastar who joined Barcelona as a teenager 17 years ago will remain at the club until he is 34 under the new deal, the Catalan club announced Wednesday, ending months of speculation about the future of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.<br /> <br /> "The deal will be signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training," the club said in a statement, as the 30-year-old enjoyed his honeymoon just days after he wed his childhood sweetheart in Argentina.<br /> <br /> Messi has hinted in the past that he would like to return in the future to Argentina to play for his very first club, CA Newell's Old Boys in his hometown of Rosario, where he wed last week. But he has also said that his priority is to win more honours with Barca, the club he has called his home since he was 13.<br /> <br /> No financial details of Messi's new contact were disclosed, but Spain's Marca sports daily reported on Tuesday that the deal included a 300-million-euro ($340-million) termination clause.<br /> <br /> Under his current contract, due to run out in June 2018, Messi earns around 20 million euros a year in salary, according to Spanish media -- and this didn't include millions of euros in revenues earned from ads and performance-linked bonuses.<br /> <br /> Messi joined FC Barcelona in 2000 when he was just 13 years old in the youth training centre.<br /> <br /> "He made his first team debut at just 16 years of age in a friendly against FC Porto, before making his debut the following season against Espanyol at 17," the club said in a statement.<br /> <br /> "Shortly after, he scored his first senior goal with a clever lob against Albacete at the Camp Nou."<br /> <br /> The deal announcement is likely to reassure fans and members of FC Barcelona, which has had a disappointing season by the club's own high standards.<br /> <br /> The club was eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter finals by Juventus, and came second behind arch-rivals Real Madrid in La Liga, though Barca did win the Copa del Rey.<br /> <br /> Leading scorer<br /> <br /> Messi's contract extension consolidates the much-feared "MSN" striking trio which also includes Brazil's Neymar and Uruguay's Luis Suarez.<br /> <br /> Both have also renewed their contracts until 2021.<br /> <br /> With 507 goals scored in 583 official matches, Messi is the club's all-time leading scorer and is widely considered the world's best player along with Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, his Real Madrid rival.<br /> <br /> "He's the best player I've ever seen on the pitch," said Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona's new coach, of Messi.<br /> <br /> Now 30, Messi could have been tempted by other horizons -- having been courted by clubs like PSG and Manchester City -- particularly as he was found guilty last year of tax fraud in Spain.<br /> <br /> But he has lived in Catalonia since his early teens, and currently resides in Barcelona with his now-wife Antonella Roccuzzo, their son Thiago, four, and Mateo, one -- both of whom were born in Spain.<br /> <br /> And Messi himself said in May that his aim as a footballer was to "try and win the most titles possible" with FC Barcelona.

Messi to remain at Barca until 2021

Lionel Messi has agreed to stay at FC Barcelona until 2021 in a deal that all but commits the star striker to playing out the rest of his ...

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Germany win first Confederations Cup

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyglyUNsZX8lm-RVyY5lhx80bKkvBM78Ev161ei8pZADta5dJYqeQDLkdeIzCERWP__VTYO1e383DJ7fk9Yv8c5QlPSMXZGli8AG31fFmxM-skrQ9_PqugfMKCXJrXGZQIz49soplqhwK6/s1600/643xNx146353f4b0aa169c46e923b105ed17a1-germany.jpg.pagespeed.ic.8Z08UUYLsR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="643" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyglyUNsZX8lm-RVyY5lhx80bKkvBM78Ev161ei8pZADta5dJYqeQDLkdeIzCERWP__VTYO1e383DJ7fk9Yv8c5QlPSMXZGli8AG31fFmxM-skrQ9_PqugfMKCXJrXGZQIz49soplqhwK6/s320/643xNx146353f4b0aa169c46e923b105ed17a1-germany.jpg.pagespeed.ic.8Z08UUYLsR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Lars Stindl's simple tap-in, following a costly first-half blunder by Marcelo Diaz, was enough to give Germany a 1-0 win over Chile in the Confederations Cup final on Sunday.</div> <div class="fb-quote fb_iframe_widget" fb-iframe-plugin-query="app_id=1499138263726489&container_width=1017&href=http%3A%2F%2Fen.prothom-alo.com%2Fsports%2Fnews%2F152695%2FGermany-win-first-Confederations-Cup&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="display: inline-block; left: -18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 937px;"> <span style="display: inline-block; height: 47px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 169px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f2b457f72373e0c" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/v2.5/plugins/quote.php?app_id=1499138263726489&channel=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FXBwzv5Yrm_1.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df3f8fc9c1f88324%26domain%3Den.prothom-alo.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.prothom-alo.com%252Ffa1ca841ef9f7%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=1017&href=http%3A%2F%2Fen.prothom-alo.com%2Fsports%2Fnews%2F152695%2FGermany-win-first-Confederations-Cup&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 47px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 169px;" title="fb:quote Facebook Social Plugin" width="1000px"></iframe></span></div> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Diaz's momentary lapse in concentration let Timo Werner rob him of possession, draw the goalkeeper and pass to Stindl, who scored into an empty net on 20 minutes in Saint Petersburg.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> This is the first time Germany, the defending world champions, have won the Confederations Cup in the eighth edition of the pre-World Cup tournament.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> The video assistant referee (VAR) again came into the spotlight as Chile's Gonzalo Jara was lucky not to be sent off in the second half.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Despite his elbow in the face of Werner midway through the second half being reviewed by the VAR, the defender was only booked.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Werner, Stindl and Leon Goretzka all finished with three goals but RB Leipzig striker Werner took the top scorer's prize by virtue of also supplying two assists.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Despite dominating for long spells, Chile failed to turn 61 percent possession and 20 shots -- compared to the Germans' eight -- into goals.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> The South Americans kept the same team which squeezed past Portugal 3-0 on a penalty shoot out after a goalless draw in the semi-finals.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Meanwhile, Germany's only change from the team which beat Mexico 4-1 in the last four saw defender Shkodran Mustafi replace Benjamin Henrichs.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Chilean fans turned the Saint Petersburg Stadium into a sea of red and merciless pressing by La Roja early on saw Charles Aranguiz and Arturo Vidal cause havoc in the Germany defence.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Eduardo Vargas had the first clear shot on 11 minutes which flew into the grateful arms of Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> The South Americans then wasted a golden chance when Vidal's shot was blocked by Ter Stegen and Alexis Sanchez could not connect with the loose ball.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> It proved costly as Diaz's calamitous mistake and Werner's quick thinking led to Stindl's match-winner.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Diaz dithered on the ball on the edge of his own box, allowing Werner to pounce. He then drew lunging Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and squared to Stindl, who tapped home.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Having fallen behind, Chile upped the pressure to force an equaliser which left space at the back for Germany to counter-attack.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Julian Draxler fired wide of the post, then Goretzka, who scored twice in the 4-1 semi-final win over Mexico, wasted a great chance by firing straight at Bravo just before the break.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Chilean tempers started to fray, and approaching the hour mark Joshua Kimmich squared up to Vidal, who pushed the German away. The Bayern Munich team-mates were both booked.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Then Werner was left clutching his jaw after an elbow in the face from Jara near the touchline, the Serbian referee deciding to award a yellow card to the defender after reviewing the incident.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> The South Americans battered the German goal in the final 20 minutes but Sanchez's shot was blocked and Ter Stegen then saved from Eduardo Vargas.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> With time running out, both Vidal and substitute Angelo Sagal fired over the bar, but the German defence held firm.</div>

Germany win first Confederations Cup

Lars Stindl's simple tap-in, following a costly first-half blunder by Marcelo Diaz, was enough to give Germany a 1-0 win over Chile i...

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Maradona 'the greatest': Ronaldo

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq2okl-xuCvlJbU5Jm7MeOhn9zaP__g5FhYM-eXIcpmYxI8SNhJaGXNBURrnXgPCT0ogmVeT3fjd-BCNf4cM56ySlBZoUdX2_ykyTH_yZxxm0NyLLZcY2EW4KYQ_SiE1-pAK9ROeqB4R_/s1600/0be21535a19eed4b874446615251fcc7-Maradona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="643" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq2okl-xuCvlJbU5Jm7MeOhn9zaP__g5FhYM-eXIcpmYxI8SNhJaGXNBURrnXgPCT0ogmVeT3fjd-BCNf4cM56ySlBZoUdX2_ykyTH_yZxxm0NyLLZcY2EW4KYQ_SiE1-pAK9ROeqB4R_/s320/0be21535a19eed4b874446615251fcc7-Maradona.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Football legends Ronaldo Nazario and Diego Maradona exchanged words of praise after being guests of honour at the FIFA Confederations Cup final between Germany and Chile.<br /> <br /> <br /> The World Cup winners -- Ronaldo for Brazil in 1994 and 2002 and Maradona for Argentina in 1986 -- arrived at the Krestovsky Stadium on the same bus and again crossed paths during the pre-match entertainment on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.<br /> <br /> "It's good to see old friends again," Ronaldo told Brazil's SporTV.<br /> <br /> "Maradona was with us on the bus. It's always fun to be with him. One of the great things about coming to these events is that you bump into good friends."<br /> <br /> Ronaldo later published an image of the pair on social media and described the former Argentina No. 10 as "the greatest".<br /> <br /> The former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker, who scored a hat-trick in Brazil's 6-0 victory over Australia in the 1997 Confederations Cup final, carried the trophy onto the pitch on Sunday.<br /> <br /> Maradona also posted a photo of the pair with the words: "If only we could play today."

Maradona 'the greatest': Ronaldo

Football legends Ronaldo Nazario and Diego Maradona exchanged words of praise after being guests of honour at the FIFA Confederations Cup ...

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Portugal seal third-place in Confed Cup

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDZuHwGSJc6qG93YZb-Rpqmeie88q2XSExUZLMcRu9Avmt636wg1va6RO_I_VJTKZ-CFzH-3SvxiizCIDx3I8UkpeQ0RNrIbEft29z1GeCygooEGxFUGdc3cef8Y-FVEVZE5cdH1Domd8/s1600/643xNx1bd52c0f3b66d1951c2120b240ec3a49-portugal.jpg.pagespeed.ic.vU2DzyddbM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="643" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDZuHwGSJc6qG93YZb-Rpqmeie88q2XSExUZLMcRu9Avmt636wg1va6RO_I_VJTKZ-CFzH-3SvxiizCIDx3I8UkpeQ0RNrIbEft29z1GeCygooEGxFUGdc3cef8Y-FVEVZE5cdH1Domd8/s320/643xNx1bd52c0f3b66d1951c2120b240ec3a49-portugal.jpg.pagespeed.ic.vU2DzyddbM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Adrien Silva scored an extra-time penalty as Portugal recovered from a goal down to beat Mexico 2-1 in Sunday's third-place play-off at the Confederations Cup in Moscow.</div> <div class="fb-quote fb_iframe_widget" fb-iframe-plugin-query="app_id=1499138263726489&container_width=1263&href=http%3A%2F%2Fen.prothom-alo.com%2Fsports%2Fnews%2F152673%2FPortugal-seal-third-place-in-Confed-Cup&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="display: inline-block; left: 349px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 940px;"> <span style="display: inline-block; height: 47px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 169px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f2b94023b964" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/v2.5/plugins/quote.php?app_id=1499138263726489&channel=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FXBwzv5Yrm_1.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df2d8a4aeec0ab98%26domain%3Den.prothom-alo.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.prothom-alo.com%252Ffc8974907d1e18%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=1263&href=http%3A%2F%2Fen.prothom-alo.com%2Fsports%2Fnews%2F152673%2FPortugal-seal-third-place-in-Confed-Cup&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 47px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 169px;" title="fb:quote Facebook Social Plugin" width="1000px"></iframe></span></div> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Luis Neto bundled into his own net to hand Mexico a 54th-minute lead, but Pepe stabbed home a stoppage-time equaliser to force an extra 30 minutes at Spartak Stadium.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Silva then struck his first international goal after a handball inside the box on 104 minutes, while both sides finished with 10 men as Nelson Semedo was dismissed for Portugal before Raul Jimenez saw red for Mexico.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> World champions Germany face Copa America holders Chile later in the final in Saint Petersburg.</div>

Portugal seal third-place in Confed Cup

Adrien Silva scored an extra-time penalty as Portugal recovered from a goal down to beat Mexico 2-1 in Sunday's third-place play-off ...

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Messi hits 500th Barca goal

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3KihZBB951yI245cBbZTbG_Hi8Y0cNVr1TU0CGrT5uHPkiYpwqS6_t508PWpk-Y4bDQTzx2_XZGEbNZUB29E5rfHw7duY-vFrhUIm56oLSMyvhBuvBEV5VxzS8gdg0bP9ITbNQmeTivR/s1600/b0597c2a8c15fa2e6024226676b14fbf-MEssitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3KihZBB951yI245cBbZTbG_Hi8Y0cNVr1TU0CGrT5uHPkiYpwqS6_t508PWpk-Y4bDQTzx2_XZGEbNZUB29E5rfHw7duY-vFrhUIm56oLSMyvhBuvBEV5VxzS8gdg0bP9ITbNQmeTivR/s320/b0597c2a8c15fa2e6024226676b14fbf-MEssitt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Lionel Messi struck his goal with the last kick of the game to blow the La Liga title race wide open with a thrilling 3-2 win at Real Madrid on Sunday.<br /> <br /> <br /> Messi had broken a three-year goalless drought against Madrid to cancel out Casemiro's opener for Madrid in the first-half.<br /> <br /> Ivan Rakitic's stunning strike and a red card for Madrid captain Sergio Ramos for chopping down Messi 13 minutes from time put Barca on course for victory before James Rodriguez came off the bench to level four minutes from time.<br /> <br /> However, fittingly, Messi had the final say with a brilliant finish deep into stoppage time to lift Barcelona's hopes of a third straight La Liga title.<br /> <br /> Fresh from dumping Bayern Munich out the Champions League in a 4-2 thriller after extra-time in midweek, Madrid had started confidently in another breathless encounter at the Bernabeu.<br /> <br /> Cristiano Ronaldo had strong appeals for a penalty waived away inside two minutes after he appeared to have been clipped by Samuel Umtiti.<br /> <br /> Barca grew slowly into the game and had their first big chance when Luis Suarez dragged wide Jordi Alba's fine cut-back from the edge of the box 11 minutes in.<br /> <br /> Shortly after Messi was left floored and bloodied after being caught by a stray elbow from Marcelo.<br /> <br /> The Argentine was still down by Ronaldo drilled another fine effort towards goal that Marc-Andre ter Stegen did well to parry to safety.<br /> <br /> Unsurprisingly given both Madrid's potency and Barca's inability to defend set-pieces, the opener arrived from a dead ball.<br /> <br /> Marcelo picked up the loose ball from a corner and when Sergio Ramos volleyed his cross against the post, Casemiro was on hand to tap into an unguarded net.<br /> <br /> The lead lasted just five minutes, though, as with a handkerchief still mopping the blood from his cheek, Messi danced past Dani Carvajal and Nacho to fire home his first goal against Madrid for three years.<br /> <br /> Ter Stegen was called into action again to prevent Real immediately retaking the lead as he flew to his left to save from Luka Modric's long-range effort.<br /> <br /> However, Barca ended the half feeling hard done by when referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez didn't show Casemiro a second yellow card for upending Messi as he led a promising counter-attack.<br /> <br /> Madrid were rampant at the start of the second period, but were met with a wall of resistence in Ter Stegen.<br /> <br /> The German dived low to his left to turn international teammate Toni Kroos's effort behind before diverting Karim Benzema's goalbound header to safety with his outstretched foot.<br /> <br /> However, Keylor Navas was also busy at the other end as he came to Madrid's rescue on three occasions.<br /> <br /> Firstly, he got a foot to Paco Alcacer's prodded effort before pulling off acrobatic saves to deny Gerard Pique and Suarez.<br /> <br /> Ronaldo then missed a guilt-edged chance to put Madrid back in front as he somehow turned the ball over from point-blank range after unselfish play from Asensio.<br /> <br /> There was nothing Navas could do to deny Barca 17 minutes from time when Rakitic took aim from 25 yards and drilled into the top corner.<br /> <br /> The match seemed to have swung decisively in Barca's favour four minutes later when Ramos scythed down Messi to be shown the 22nd red card of his career.<br /> <br /> However, even with 10 men, Madrid rallied and levelled when substitute James Rodriguez swept home Marcelo's cross four minutes from time.<br /> <br /> There was still time for one huge twist in the title race, though, as Sergi Roberto's lung-bursting run led a Barca counter-attack to feed Jordi Alba and his cross was smashed into the corner by Messi.

Messi hits 500th Barca goal

Lionel Messi struck his goal with the last kick of the game to blow the La Liga title race wide open with a thrilling 3-2 win at Real Ma...

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‘Best ever’ Messi turns tables on Madrid

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsgALragMmq4MkzKY1ELoh47_0r7HW3MlIc67fsqsXFXp7zH9T2iQgDxVCMDMrL469Uc4F0OsLQwULe3HtXlcrwcf9qLtQ9lcqVIe9T3nYEuvS6_FKNkPZKk3wnn_szqrkmQ_mTom5tAb/s1600/643xNx080ad63eb68e924dd855ef8ad41b70ac-MEssi.jpg.pagespeed.ic.GSv7fs5bSU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsgALragMmq4MkzKY1ELoh47_0r7HW3MlIc67fsqsXFXp7zH9T2iQgDxVCMDMrL469Uc4F0OsLQwULe3HtXlcrwcf9qLtQ9lcqVIe9T3nYEuvS6_FKNkPZKk3wnn_szqrkmQ_mTom5tAb/s320/643xNx080ad63eb68e924dd855ef8ad41b70ac-MEssi.jpg.pagespeed.ic.GSv7fs5bSU.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Barcelona coach Luis Enrique revelled in turning the tables on bitter rivals Real Madrid as Lionel Messi struck deep into stoppage time to edge a thrilling El Clasico 3-2 on Sunday.<br /> <br /> Messi’s second goal of the night was his 500th for Barcelona and took the Catalans to the top of La Liga.<br /> <br /> “He is the best player for me in history and I have seen a lot of football,” said Enrique.<br /> <br /> “In modern football when everyone is tactically and physically better he still makes the difference.<br /> <br /> “The fact he has scored his 500th goal shows all of us as Barca fans are lucky to have him identified with the club.”<br /> <br /> The timing of Messi’s strike also saw Barca gain revenge for Sergio Ramos’s stoppage time equaliser in a 1-1 draw when the sides last met back in December.<br /> <br /> “It is marvellous for us to win in the 92nd minute. It is something that is normally more a characteristic of our rivals, but we like to do it too,” added Enrique.<br /> <br /> Barca lead at the top of the table thanks to their better head-to-head record. Madrid, though, still have the advantage as they have a game in hand.<br /> <br /> “To score in the 92nd minute is a huge confidence boost,” said Enrique, who will leave the club at the end of the season.<br /> <br /> However, he and Barca captain Andres Iniesta called on Messi, whose contract expires at the end of next season, not to follow him in leaving the Camp Nou.<br /> <br /> “Barca is an incredible club with many years of history, but without doubt an important part of that history is Leo Messi,” Enrique said.<br /> <br /> ‘A blessing’<br /> <br /> “I think the great thing about Leo is that he continues to surprise,” said Iniesta.<br /> <br /> “After so many years he is still decisive. It is an honour and a blessing for the club to have him.”<br /> <br /> By contrast, Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was left to lament his side’s over adventurous nature after conceding in stoppage time after being reduced to 10 men.<br /> <br /> Messi had cancelled out Casemiro’s opener before half-time.<br /> <br /> But Barca looked well on the road to victory when Ivan Rakitic’s stunning effort put the visitors 2-1 in front before Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was sent off for a wild lunge on Messi.<br /> <br /> However, Madrid rallied when a man down as substitute James Rodriguez fired home an equaliser four minutes from time.<br /> <br /> “Drawing the game with 10 men, to press high up the field is dangerous and we paid for that,” said Zidane.<br /> <br /> “I can’t criticise the players for anything though. We gave our all, but we didn’t manage to get the three points.<br /> <br /> “We didn’t deserve to lose, but that is football.”<br /> <br /> Madrid now need to take at least 16 points from their final six La Liga games to be guaranteed the title.<br /> <br /> “There will be much more of a title race, but it is still in our own hands,” added Zidane.<br /> <br /> Madrid were also dealt a fresh injury blow for the remainder of their league season and upcoming Champions League semi-finals against Atletico Madrid as Gareth Bale faces another spell on the sidelines.<br /> <br /> The Welshman lasted just 38 minutes on his return after missing Madrid’s last two outings with persistent ankle problems.<br /> <br /> “I don’t regret anything,” said Zidane over his decision to start Bale.<br /> <br /> “I am disappointed for him. He started the game well and then the injuries we can’t control.<br /> <br /> “We will see what exactly the injury is and hope it is as little as possible.”

‘Best ever’ Messi turns tables on Madrid

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique revelled in turning the tables on bitter rivals Real Madrid as Lionel Messi struck deep into stoppage time ...

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