El Clasico: Magician Messi breaks 5 records
What's the story
Goals, drama and high octane action, the El Clasico lived up to its promise. Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid were on the losing side on home turf as goals from Messi, Luis Suarez and Aleix Vidal secured a comfortable clasico win for Barcelona. It was record breaking night for the little magician Messi who broke at least 5 records on the night. Here's more!
Thumping
Real succumb to costly El Clasico defeat
It was all square at the Bernabeu until the half time whistle, but Barcelona quickly changed gears in the second half. Suarez opened the scoring and minutes later Dani Carvajal was given the marching orders for handling the ball reducing the hosts to 10 men Messi scored from the spot and Aleix Vidal completed the rout leaving their rivals red faced.
Nemesis
Leo thrashes Real in their own backyard
Messi's 17 goals against Real Madrid are the most by any player in La Liga's history. Messi is the only player to score 15+ goals in 10 consecutive La Liga seasons. The magician now holds the record for the most goals scored for a single European club with 526 to his name. Messi surpassed Bayern Munich's legend Gerd Muller's record of 525 goals.
Record-breaker
Magical Messi is Real Madrid's nightmare
Messi is now the top scorer of 2017 with 54 goals to his name, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski and Edinson Cavani. Messi is now the all-time top scorer in El Clasico history with 25 goals to his name. Messi is also the top scorer at the Santiago Bernabeu in El Clasicos, finding the net on 15 occasions.
Disastrous
Real Madrid have been awful in Clasicos
Zinedine Zidane is the first Real Madrid manager to lose consecutive home games against Barcelona in La Liga history The last 6 red cards in the El Clasico have been awarded to Real Madrid players. Luis Suarez has scored five goals in 7 La Liga Clasico games. Barcelona have won 3 consecutive Clasicos at the Bernabeu for the first time in their history.
Mind the gap
Unbeaten Barcelona keep extend lead
Barcelona's defense has been rock solid this season conceding just 7 goals in 17 games with 11 clean sheets. Barcelona, along with Manchester City, are the only two unbeaten teams in their respective leagues this season. Barcelona have now extended their lead in the La Liga title race over their rivals Real Madrid to 14 points.