as Barcelona and Real Madrid drew 2-2 in a politically-charged
Clasico on Sunday which kept the Catalan giants eight poins ahead of
their bitter rivals.
Ronaldo put Madrid ahead after 23 minute but Messi responded just
after the half hour mark with Barca having shown little going forward.
The 98,000 capacity crowd of vociferous Catalans glimpsed the
possibility of going 11 points clear after Messi struck a free-kick to
put them ahead after the break but Ronaldo responded five minutes
later.
In the dying stages, Barca had the chance to win it with Martin
Montoya hitting the woodwork.
On a tense night at Camp Nou, fans created a mosaic of the Catalan
flag, "The Senyera", in a clear demonstration of the nationalist
fervour in the region where many want independence from Spain.
In a surprise move, Barca lined up with Adriano Correia in the centre
of defence alongside Javier Mascherano with Carles Puyol and Gerard
Pique both injured.
Real coach Jose Mourinho put his confidence in the side which won the
league last season with Mesut Ozil returning to the starting line-up
despite a poor start to the campaign where Luka Modric appeared to
have moved above him in the pecking order.
In a cautious opening, Barca had possession but were generally too
deep and the Madrid players were happy to sit on the halfway line,
looking to pounce when their moves
broke down.
Despite their impressive winning streak, which had yielded six
victories in the opening six La Liga matches, Barca have lacked their
usual silky passing and their hesitation was made worse by a lack of
confidence in their defence.
Angel Di Maria had an early shot wide and Adriano was forced into a
last ditch clearance but the first clear opportunity fell to Karim
Benzema after 12 minutes.
However, volleying the ball on the full from a Ronaldo cross, he
blazed wide. The general air of nationalism was again demonstrated
after 17 minutes and 14 seconds when fans raised their Senyera flags
and chanted for freedom for Catalonia.
The moment was chosen as a reference to the fall of Barcelona in 1714
during the War of Spanish Succession when Catalonia came under
centralised rule from Madrid.
Sergio Ramos had the chance to put Madrid in the driving seat after 20
minutes but allowed a clear header from a corner he was unable to hit
the target.
Madrid looked the more incisive side going forward and they got their
reward when Ronaldo beat keeper Victor Valdes at his near post with a
low left-foot drive after being played in by Benzema.
The Frenchman then failed to double the advantage, leaning back with
his shot from 12 yards, and the ball came back off the post while Di
Maria hit the follow-up wide. opening.
Pepe jumped and failed to connect with the ball which dropped at the
feet of Messi in front of goal and he slotted home.
The match lost its cageyness, but after the break neither side was
able to take control with imprecise passing and niggly fouls creating
few clear cut chances.
It was at this moment that Barcelona received a moment of inspiration
from Messi with a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner after he
himself had been fouled.
The goal was Messi's 17th in Clasico matches.
Ronaldo though was not to be outdone and, latching onto an Ozil pass
in the area he finished clinically. What a beautiful display tonight
!!!!