Spanish League/Barcelona 3 Real Madrid 3: The doubts that hang over Barcelona and Real Madrid have not been entirely swept away but on Saturday they proved there is still life in these footballing giants.
There is life too in Fabio Capello - and, indeed, in Spain's league title race, which provided another twist yesterday when Sevilla failed to go above Barcelona at the top by surprisingly losing 1-0 at Gimnastic. Valencia stay third after drawing 1-1 away to Osasuna.
Just days after Spain's big two were knocked out of Europe they served up a fantastic contest at the Camp Nou. Billed as the poorest clasico in years between two sides on the brink of a depression it was instead the best, both sides departing with a feeling of renaissance.
It started with three goals in less than a quarter of an hour and finished at 3-3, but it could have ended six apiece - the goalkeepers, Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes, were magnificent. And they were not alone.
Three times Real went ahead, three times Barcelona - reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time with Oleguer Presas's sending-off - equalised. Their final goal was a wonderful strike from Leo Messi in the 90th minute that completed his hat-trick.
With quick feet, superb balance and a chilling coolness, the Argentinian was out of this world. He collected the ball five yards outside the area, carried it past Ivan Helguera and thumped the finish beyond Casillas. In between that ending and Ruud van Nistelrooy's fourth-minute opener, this match had everything. And even after Messi's goal there was time for more drama.
In the 94th minute Ronaldinho went down in Real's penalty area under challenge from Mahamadou Diarra, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
It would have been harsh for Madrid to depart as losers here. Defeat would have cost Capello his job. Instead, he earned a reprieve.
The Italian should survive to the end of the season, with the president, Ramon Calderon, insisting that he will "still be here in June". Now the pressure is on for Frank Rijkaard, whose 3-4-3 formation appeared a risk too far.
Rijkaard's side were full of fluid movement, but while Messi slotted one into the corner and thrashed another into the roof of the net, Barcelona were repeatedly thwarted by Casillas. And at the other end they were so bad it was comic. Van Nistelrooy curled in the first and put away the penalty for the second after Guti was brought down. Oleguer got a booking for the foul and a second followed before the interval. His sending-off changed the game, Rijkaard removing Samuel Eto'o and playing with only two forwards. Madrid now dominated, and Sergio Ramos's header seemed to have earned them a huge victory before Messi's moment of magic.
Guardian Service
BARCELONA: Valdes, Oleguer, Thuram, Puyol Iniesta, Marquez, Xavi, Deco (Belletti, 71), Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho. Booked: Oleguer, Xavi, Deco. Sent off: Olegeur 45. Goals: Messi, 11, 27, 90.
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado, Ramos, Helguera, Torres, Gago, Guti (De La Red, 82), Diarra, Higuain, Van Nistelrooy, Raul (Robinho, 61). Booked: Gago, Salgado, Ramos, Van Nistelrooy, Diarra. Goals: Van Nistelrooy 5, 13 pen, Ramos 73.
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