Updated at 18.30
LIONEL MESSI INSPIRED Barcelona to a thumping 3-0 Clasico victory over Real Madrid, and even assisted his side’s third goal without wearing his right boot!
Messi outstripped Marcelo for pace, reached the by-line and cut the ball back for Aleix Vidal to score Barcelona’s third in injury time, but it became clear during the celebrations that the Argentine maestro had done it all without the proper footwear.
Messi lost his boot as he rode the challenge of Marcelo, before he crossed with his left foot, as Vidal added some gloss to a convincing scoreline.
Luis Suarez scored Barca’s first, and Messi added a second from the penalty spot after Dani Carvajal was sent off for handling the ball on the line.
Barca now sit 14 points clear of Real, who are fourth, and nine ahead of second-placed Atletico.
GOAL! Aleix Vidal 90'+3 (0-3) #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/bp1vNbzgan
— Media Cules Goal (@mediaculesgoal) December 23, 2017
Typically, Messi also broke a couple of records with his performance today…
200 - Lionel Messi has provided his 200th assist for Barcelona in all competitions. Extra-terrestrial. pic.twitter.com/FZIJbLPRZE
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 23, 2017
15 - Lionel Messi is the only player to score 15+ goals in 10 consecutive La Liga seasons. Jedi. pic.twitter.com/kpaC3iYUZd
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 23, 2017
17 - Lionel Messi has scored more goals against Real Madrid than any other player in La Liga history. Nemesis. pic.twitter.com/HvMFlDUqOl
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 23, 2017
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Another huge talent off the Dublin/AIG production line. Dublin cleverness and investment in youth structures combined with most other football counties being work-shy, unambitious and lazy has got them into the position they’re in today. People can talk all they want about home advantage, the vast sums of AIG money, the multiple additional sponsorship tie-ups, 23 man backroom teams, having 36% of the population to choose from and all the disproportionate funds directed by the GAA into Dublin coffers – it’s all irrelevant. The envious and bone idle other counties just need to invest in their ‘structures’ like Dublin and success will flow like a river.
@Johnny A: And boy do we love how it makes people like you feel ;)
Can we start referring to Mayo as Mayo/Enda Kenny?
Honestly, give it a rest, do you not get tired saying the same thing every day?
@Johnny A: Yawn, Johnny A Hole! Spinning the same yarns and waffle on every Dublin article and yet can’t produce a single fact or statistic to back up his meanderings. The obsession is a bit ridiculous. He’s all over every Dublin article like I want to be all over Margot Robbie.
@Johnny A: I hope you got it all off your chest now Johnny(Kerry Gold)A
@Johnny A: You know you love the Super Dubs!!!! Now will ye ever go and fix that broken record of yours, or better again go get yourself some mates. UP THE DUBS!!!
COYBIB & KING CON WILL BE A DUBLIN LEGEND COMING FROM THE PROLIFIC DUBLIN GAA YOUTH SYSTEM
Wait until Boyle gets a hold of him #NoMercy
@Fionnan Ryan:
@Fionnan Ryan: With his dodgy achilles sure he only plays half a match now
@Fionnan Ryan: if he gets a hold of him on the ball the ref will hopefully give a free as per the rules and the “apache indian” might play within the rules then