Messi out-guns Ronaldo in seven-goal Clasico

Lionel Messi's 26th career hat-trick kept Barcelona in the La Liga title race as they closed the gap on league leaders Atletico Madrid.

Some critics expected the game to be a cagey affair like previous El Clasico matches but it was anything but, as the goals flew in at the Santiago Bernabeu. The opening minutes were played at a frantic pace, and Andres Iniesta was on hand to give Barcelona the lead in the eighth minute. Iniesta was given far too much space at the far post and he drilled the ball in off the crossbar to give Gerardo Martino's men the lead. Karim Benzema had two glorious opportunities to score before he took his third chance in the 20th minute when he latched onto an Angel Di Maria's cross to head the ball past Victor Valdes, who could only palm the ball into the back of the net. He then made it 2-1 just four minutes later as he volleyed home another Di Maria cross after a mistake from Javier Mascherano.
Benzema could have extended the advantage but saw an effort cleared off the line by Gerard Pique. Carlo Ancelotti's men were unable to hold on though as Lionel Messi found space to put the ball in the net to make it 2-2 at the break, before Benzema headed wide with the keeper to beat on the stroke of half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the action as he won and scored a penalty in the 54th minute. 

The Portuguese international was upended by Dani Alves although the contact looked to be outside the area. Madrid were then dealt a blow when Sergio Ramos was sent-off for a foul in the box on Neymar, with Messi once again stepping up to draw Barca level. Alves almost put the La Liga champions in front when he rattled the post in the 74th minute from distance, with Diego Lopez well beaten. But they did seal the win in the 83rd minute when the third penalty of the match was given after Iniesta was brought down in the box by Xabi Alonso. Messi stepped up under pressure to convert the spot-kick to close the gap on Real Madrid and rivals Atletico at the top of the table to just one point.