El Clasico lives up to its expectation

LONDON: Living up to the "clasico" billing, Lionel Messi upstaged Cristiano Ronaldo on his own turf to reassert Barcelona´s title credentials on Sunday.

Messi scored a hat trick, including two penalties, as Barca won 4-3 in an entertaining and at times controversial encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where the hosts finished with 10 men.

And having been written off too early in its title defense, Barca is now just a point behind Madrid rivals Atletico and Real at the top.

The pulsating match of the day began with Andres Iniesta powering Barcelona in front after seven minutes, followed by Karim Benzema scoring twice to put Real Madrid in control.

Although Messi slotted in an equalizer before halftime, Ronaldo re-established Madrid´s lead with a 55th-minute penalty. But Messi eclipsed the man who deposed him as world player of the year scoring twice on penalties, including the equalizer after Sergio Ramos was sent off.

Messi´s second straight hat trick put him second on the Spanish league´s all-time scoring list with 235 goals, passing Hugo Sanchez. (AP)