Lionel Messi hat-trick sees Barca past Real in seven-goal thriller

Messi hat-trick sees Barca past Real in seven-goal thriller - Barcelona moved to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as they twice came from behind thanks to a Lionel Messi hat-trick to edge a thrilling El Clasico 4-3 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The sides went in level 2-2 at half-time as a record 19th goal against Madrid from Messi cancelled out Karim Benzema's double after Andres Iniesta had put Barca in front.

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi grabs the ball after scoring during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)      

       

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Gerard Julien). 

Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos is shown a red card during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Gerard Julien). 

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcou). 

Real Madrid's goalkeeper Diego Lopez (top) jumps over Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Dani Pozo). 

Cristiano Ronaldo then put Madrid back in front from the penalty spot, but the hosts were reduced to 10-men when Sergio Ramos pulled down Neymar inside the box 10 minutes later and Messi levelled once more from the spot.

And the Argentine won the game with another penalty seven minutes from time after Iniesta had been felled by Xabi Alonso.

A first defeat for Real in 32 games means Atletico Madrid remain top of the table thanks to their better head-to-head record against Los Blancos with Barca still in third.

"The league starts a new now," said Barca boss Gerardo Martino.

"More than the mathematical distance we were behind, the impression was people wrote us off. Atletico Madrid were always in the fight and I think that after this result we are too.

"We knew if we didn't win tonight it was over for us. We still don't have matters in our own hands, but we'll now fight till the end."

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, lamented Ramos' game-changing red card when Madrid had just gotten themselves back in front.

"I haven't seen it again and it is difficult for me to comment on the decisions of the referee because there were many.

"However, it was the key moment. We were winning 3-2 and controlling the game well, but it is much more difficult to control the game with a player less."

The game got off to a blistering start as after Neymar and Benzema had early efforts easily saved, Barca opened the scoring when Messi played in Iniesta behind the Real defence and the Spanish international smashed the ball in off the underside of the bar.

Benzema had a great chance to equalise five minutes later when he spooned Angel Di Maria's cut-back over after a great a jinking run from the Argentine had taken him past three Barca defenders.

Messi could then have made it 2-0 when he fired wide with the type of opening he is normally deadly with as he raced onto Cesc Fabregas' fine through ball.

Benzema made amends for his earlier miss 20 minutes in when Victor Valdes just failed to keep out his header from Di Maria's cross.

The Frenchman then completed a rapid turnaround for the hosts as Javier Mascherano misjudged another Di Maria centre from the left and Benzema took a touch before firing past the helpless Valdes.

Gerard Pique had to make a vital clearance off the line to prevent a hat-trick of Di Maria assists for Benzema.

- Controversial penalty award -

Barca responded before half-time and were level when Messi controlled a loose ball inside the area and slotted home at Diego Lopez's near post.

Benzema could still have put Madrid in front at the break as his looping header from Dani Carvajal's cross crept inches past the post.

The first opportunity of the second period also fell to Benzema after a terrific run and pass from Gareth Bale, but this time Valdes managed to make the save low to his right.

Carlo Ancelotti's men did retake the lead on 55 minutes when referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco controversially awarded a penalty for a trip on Ronaldo by Alves despite the contact appearing to take place outside the area.

Ronaldo was unmoved, though, as he got up to take hammer the resulting spot-kick low past Valdes' outstretched right hand.

However, the game turned again 25 minutes from time when Messi released Neymar and he was brought down by Ramos.

Real's captain for the evening was shown his 19th red card for Los Blancos for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity and Messi converted from the spot to make it 3-3.

Alves then struck the inside of the post from 25 yards as Barca went in search of the goal that would salvage their title chances.

And they got it when Mallenco awarded a third penalty of the evening as Iniesta tumbled inside the area and Messi again dispatched it perfectly high past Lopez. (AFP)

READ MORE - Lionel Messi hat-trick sees Barca past Real in seven-goal thriller

Soccer-Seedorf sent off for leaving pitch the wrong way

Soccer-Seedorf sent off for leaving pitch the wrong way - Dutchman Clarence Seedorf was bizarrely sent off in Botafogo's 2-1 win over Madureira on Sunday for arguing with the referee over where he should leave the pitch after being substituted.

His stoppage-time dismissal capped an afternoon in which Botafogo were also awarded a penalty, only for the referee to change his mind as Seedorf was about to take the kick.

The first-half spot-kick was awarded with the game still goalless when Rafael Marques appeared to be fouled in the penalty area.

Former AC Milan, Ajax, Sampdoria and Real Madrid midfielder Seedorf had began his run-up when the referee stopped the game, consulted his linesman and changed his mind, saying that Marques had been passed the ball by a player in an offside decision.

Botafogo protested angrily, claiming the referee had received information from sources off the pitch who had seen television replays.

On being substituted at the end, Seedorf, who scored the winning goal in the 68th minute, walked towards the Botafogo bench but was ordered by the referee to go off on the other side of the pitch to save time,

Seedorf protested, was booked, turned his back on the referee and was given another yellow card.

"I didn't understand anything," he told touchline reporters.

The game was played in the Carioca championship, one of a plethora of regional tournaments which kick off the Brazilian season.

The weekend's programme went ahead as usual even though some clubs were missing players called up for Brazil's friendlies against Italy, which they drew 2-2 in Geneva last Thursday, and Russia in London on Monday.

Brazilian champions Fluminense, missing three players including striker Fred, drew 0-0 at Duque de Caxias in front of barely more than 1,000 fans on Saturday.

Santos, deprived of prodigy Neymar, drew 0-0 with Palmeiras in the Paulista championship on Sunday.

Reuters – Sun, Mar 24, 2013 6:55 PM EDT

READ MORE - Soccer-Seedorf sent off for leaving pitch the wrong way

Gunning for them! Arsenal players brawl with armed riot police as ugly scenes mar Ronaldinho's super strike in Brazil

Gunning for them! Arsenal players brawl with armed riot police as ugly scenes mar Ronaldinho's super strike in Brazil - At least four players from Argentine club Arsenal were detained for interrogation after a confrontation with Brazilian police at a Copa Libertadores match on Wednesday.

Police said at least two officers and a journalist sustained minor injuries in the brawl after Atletico Mineiro's 5-2 win over the Argentine club in the city of Belo Horizonte.

The players will likely be charged after throwing punches and kicking the officers who were trying to protect the referees as the final whistle blew at the Independencia Stadium.

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Violence: Arsenal players clash with riot police who came onto the pitch to protect the referee

Fight: Disturbing scenes took place when the players tried to voice their dissatisfaction with the officials

Armed: A Brazilian anti-riot police officer aims his pellet shotgun at Arsenal players

Television images showed some of the players - who were not immediately identified - attacking the officers, who used shields and batons to protect themselves.

Some officers also had shotguns loaded with rubber bullets, although local police official Claudia Romualdo said no shots were fired at players. Police also were prepared to use tear gas to control the situation but it also wasn't needed.

The altercation began after several Arsenal players approached the officiating crew following the match to complain. Some police officers immediately arrived, shoving the players away and upsetting the Argentines.

Mindless: An Arsenal coach tries to calm down his players as they clash with the riot officers

Protection: The referee and linesman were heavily protected as they left the field

The confrontation continued as police tried to escort the players from the field.

'The officers were positioned to provide safety to the visiting players so they could go into the locker rooms, but inexplicably they attacked the officers again as they left the field,' Romualdo said.

She said one of the players hit her with a kick to her chest.

'What happened here is deplorable,' Romualdo said. 'This is not about sports. When our law is broken, obviously we need to take action.'

Problems: Argentinian clubs are angry with Brazil after Tigre were forced to stay off the field in the final of the 2012 Copa Sudamericana citing safety concerns after allegedly being assaulted by the police at half-time

Fiasco: The trouble continued into the dressing room as Arsenal were still unhappy with their treatment

Recompense: Nicolas Diego Aguirre (back right) of Arsenal and other teammates caused significant damage to the dressing room which Atletico Mineiro have said they will charge them for

Every Arsenal player and the entire Argentine delegation was kept from leaving the stadium until authorities were able to identify those who attacked the officers.

Atletico Mineiro club director Eduardo Maluf told local media that Arsenal's locker room was damaged by the Argentine delegation. He said the club will eventually ask Arsenal to pay for Atletico's losses.

'They came here to fight,' Atletico Mineiro coach Cuca said. 'I was tired of seeing their defensive midfielders kicking (our players) away from the ball.' 

Ronaldinho scored two of the goals for Atletico Mineiro, who has won all of its five matches to lead Group 3 of the Latin American club competition. Arsenal is third in the group. Only two teams will advance to the next round.

Brawl: The trouble started at the end of the first-half between both sets of players

Firing on all cylinders: Ronaldinho scored twice during the game, including one sumptuous finish

Old days: At moments the two-time winner of FIFA's World Player of the Year looked back to his very best

Video: Ronaldinho hits a powerful chip straight into the top corner

Dailymail.co.uk : PUBLISHED: 08:41 GMT, 4 April 2013 | UPDATED: 12:11 GMT, 4 April 2013

READ MORE - Gunning for them! Arsenal players brawl with armed riot police as ugly scenes mar Ronaldinho's super strike in Brazil