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Guillem Balague discusses Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sunday's sensational Clasico

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23:  Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona (4) celebrates as he scores their second goal with Luis Suarez (9) and team mates during the La Liga m
Image: Barca's dramatic 3-2 win over Madrid in El Clasico may have a big impact on the destiny of this season's La Liga title race

Guillem Balague discusses Sunday's thrilling Clasico, looking at Lionel Messi's breathtaking display and assessing whether the result will impact the title.

Momentum-changing Clasico?

El Clasico is a game that changes dynamics. Last season, the four goals that Barca scored at the Bernabeu - when Rafa Benitez was in charge at Real - was the beginning of the end for Rafa.

Then Zidane went to the Nou Camp and that gave him impetus to win the Champions League and almost steal the league.

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23:  Lionel Messi of Barcelona (C) celebrates as he scores their first and equalising goal with team mates during the La Liga match b
Image: Could Barca's win over Real help the holders retain their La Liga crown?

Their first meeting this season was 1-1, which handed the initiative to Real Madrid, and this one could change the dynamic yet again.

These games always make a big impact, and especially so when you note that Real Madrid lost at the Bernabeu for the first time ever with an injury-time goal by a rival. That had never happened.

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Thierry Henry says Barca's Lionel Messi was motivated to make a big impact on El Clasico after seeing Cristiano Ronaldo score his 100th Champions League goal in midweek

And being the 500th goal of Messi, and the way he celebrated, could have a big impact.

Messi improvised that reaction, he hadn't prepared it at all. He was reacting to a very tough game where Casemiro could have been sent off - and then the two fouls from Sergio Ramos and Marcelo on the Argentine.

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Magical Messi

Messi was fantastic. Luis Enrique identified that Real Madrid's main weakness was behind Casemiro, that part of the pitch where the space was going to be created, and Messi interpreted that perfectly.

So he dropped deep, ran through the middle and knew that if he could go past Real's midfielders and defenders, there was always the chance that Casemiro, who rushes his decisions, would get a yellow, which he did early in the game. And in fact, he should have got another one before half-time.

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league Clasico football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at th
Image: Barca playmaker Lionel Messi produced a sensational display to help beat Real

He knew that that was the best way to attack and very cleverly Luis Enrique used two centre-forwards - Luis Suarez and Paco Alcacer - to occupy their centre-backs and in order to create that space as well behind Casemiro.

So Messi knew that was the plan, he knew that he had to build the attack, he knew that when he found the space, he had to attack it, and he did that all to perfection. So it was not just his goals.

In the second half when the team was a bit too rushed in its play, he tried to control the game by keeping the ball and linking up with Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. And then of course at the end when he had to appear after the wonderful run of Sergi Roberto, with Andre Gomes waiting for Jordi Alba to overtake him, and the cross from Jordi Alba, he timed his run to perfection for the goal.

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Lionel Messi brought up his 500th goal for Barcelona in spectacular fashion, scoring the winner in the El Clasico with the last kick of the match

So it was a superlative performance for Messi. I was asked by (presenter) David Garrido why he had only scored four goals in the last 11 Clasicos, and I think it must be one of the only times ever I did not have an answer. I had no idea how this was possible, how to make sense of such a freakish stat.

But anyway, I am glad he has got back to goalscoring form and I do not have to explain that one again.

Real blame game

There is a difference of opinions between (Sky Sports Spanish football expert) Graham Hunter and myself in Revista about who is to blame about Real Madrid's lack of control in certain moments of the game.

Zinedine Zidane complained himself that at the end of the game, the team should have thought things through better and paused the game because they were caught on the counter playing with 10 men when they were attacking themselves for Barcelona's winner.

Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane shouts on the sideline during the Spanish league Clasico football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Sa
Image: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane should take some blame for his side's Clasico defeat for continuing to attack late on at the Bernabeu

Graham feels the players should have taken responsibility and understood that is what the game required. I do agree with him, but will also add that Zidane must take some blame. Yes, he made two key offensive substitutions, but they were changes that also created a little bit of chaos, aided by the fact both teams were tired after their midweek exertions in the Champions League.

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So with Marco Asensio and James Rodriguez, the team had to attack, and I know that Mateo Kovacic and Toni Kroos moved into the holding midfield positions. But the message coming from the bench was not about control and more about attacking.

And then when they levelled matters at 2-2 and with just a few seconds left in the game, they kept attacking. Zidane should have given a different type of message by sending on someone like Isco and controlling the game by keeping possession.

Luis Enrique's tactical masterclass

Tactically he got things spot on. Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry kept on pointing out that Paco was brilliant in the role - which was left of the midfield four when defending and then as a centre-forward - he was asked to do and he was dead on his feet at the end of the game. But he did a fantastic job and was a key man, although interestingly enough reading the Catalan press this morning, he does not get much of a mention.

Luis Enrique is remaining positive for 2017
Image: Barca boss Luis Enrique should take great credit for his Clasico gameplan

It's not all Ron's fault

He will be unfairly criticised because he did not score, but more and more the problem for him is he is going to be judged by the goals he has scored. This also happened in the past, but then he was also contributing in other areas for the team.

But now he has lost three kilos and made his body leaner with less muscle, especially in the upper part of his body, and he has built up the lower part of his body in order to maintain the explosive pace that will make him a great centre-forward.

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23:  Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid reacts during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Bernabeu on
Image: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo should not be criticised despite not scoring against Barcelona

But because he does not get involved in the game anymore, he just puts the ball in the back of the net, people will judge him on the number of goals he scores. He did have a clear chance that he missed, even though he was offside, and he did not score.

But I thought Marc-Andre ter Stegen had a lot to do with that as well. He had an excellent game and Ronaldo put him under a lot of pressure. I do not think he had a bad game. And I think it would be unfair to measure him in the same ways he used to be measured.

For me, he is the best centre-forward in the world now that he has been converted into one.

Man in the middle in the spotlight

The referee [Alejandro Jose Hernandez] is being portrayed in the Barcelona press as a good referee, and in the Madrid press as a bad one.

If you want to know what the Spanish media thinks of an official, just look at the result and who has won and lost.

Casmerio should have been sent off. He stamped on Messi, for a second yellow that wasn't given.

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Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos was shown a straight red card for this two-footed lunge on Barcelona's Lionel Messi

With regards to Marcelo. Yes, he protected himself with his elbow, but I think it's a yellow, not a red. A referee messaged me during the game to say it was a yellow for reckless use of the arm, but it wasn't violent conduct.

And I don't believe it was a penalty for Ronaldo earlier in the game. The sending off of Ramos was a definite red. And there was no offside for the Casemiro goal.

So there were mixed decisions, but I don't think it affected the game.

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And now time for your questions....

Should Real buy Hazard with Ronaldo as a striker and Benzema not performing? (Abhinav Sharma‏)

Chelsea are saying that they are not selling Eden Hazard at all. They say he's enjoying life in London and doesn't want to move. I'm not sure about that, but in any case, Chelsea are saying they have no intention of selling.

Got to be it for Isco now at Real Madrid, hasn't it, after not being used last night? Has to move on, too good to just be back up? (Ghedin)

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MARCH 06:  Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates after he scores his side first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham Unit
Image: Chelsea say they will not sell Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer

It must have been very disappointing. He probably should have been the replacement after Gareth Bale got injured, but Zidane plumped for Asensio instead.

The intention of Isco is to stay at Real and Zidane wants him to stay too. But let's see whether the fact that he didn't feature in El Clasico will change his mind or not.

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: Francisco Roman Alarcon alias Isco (R) looks on during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol at Estadio Sa
Image: Isco will not have been happy after being left out of Real's starting line-up for Sunday's Clasico

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