The Day False 9 Lionel Messi Was Introduced To The World ► Messi Vs Real Madrid (2/5/2009)

Two or three months ago, you know, we would have lost that 12-point advantage that Barcelona had and Real Madrid would have clawed their way back into the championship race. And now suddenly it's done to this, and it's a winner. Sit back and watch the action. There's going to be goals in this one for sure. Have a chance to enhance their already glowing reputations. There is Messi to Xavi. Barcelona trying to get the league over with in the opening half-minute of the game. It's Catalonia against the rest of Spain. That's the way they feel around here. It's a little bit like Yorkshire half-clears. Here is Lionel Messi. Is this the stage for the wonderful little Argentinian player tonight? We've had the best play in this game over the last hundred years or so. Messi is right up there with them, with the Cruyffs and the Ronaldinhos, as he tries to find Betis. Messi taken down. Remember the approach at the Nou Camp earlier in the season, in Ramos' first game in charge, was to basically take it in turns to have a hack at Lionel Messi. There was a couple of early goals, but it was never tough, it was touch and go. Iniesta. Now Messi tries to get it onto that magic wand of a left foot. Eto'o. Eto'o, lovely touch for Messi. You could see where that ball was going. Alves. The right-back becomes a right-winger, tries to cut it to the far post. Not good for Barcelona, they really like this tight, short passing game. Now Iniesta. Messi holds off Osana Diarra. Takes three to tango with him, but they do their job. Well, if they can try to make twos and threes, that will make it a lot more difficult for Lionel Messi to function. He's a big figure as well when it comes to set-plays. The flag is down, but Casillas is acting as a sweeper-keeper. He's caught by Messi. Casillas is down and the referee has pulled play back anyway. Messi couldn't believe his luck. Look right back. That's why. Leisman gets this right. Out comes sweeper-keeper, slices it. Messi can't stop because of his momentum. Slides. Hits Casillas and the referee then blows the whistle for the free-kick. Can Barca bounce back? It's Cami. Here is Omri. Can he bounce back? Yes, he can! Three times in the last five minutes he's broke clear. They haven't picked him up and you can see he's getting loads of space. And this game has been pulled back open again. Great way to respond, Jerry Omri. It's his 18th league goal this season. I think it's his 25th goal in Tottenham's match we've got. Onside. Precision pass. Precision run. It is. And it's Gabriel Ainslie in the left-back slot who clears him onside. Great goal. Wonderful goal. Omri here scores on vital. Alves, who leads the charge. Messi. Wonderful disguise pass. Messi to make it 3-1, but... That's Omri falling. You can see there he was hit by... Could he not have squared that for a tap-in at the far post, Messi? He made his debut for Barcelona as a player 20 years ago to the day. Lionel Messi. You get the impression he's in the mood tonight. Don't watch the eyes. Chavi. Now Messi. He's drifted in from the wick by to the far post. It's over the head of Pique. He'll be retrieved by Lionel Messi. Perfect pass. Oh, that's so easy. 1-2 there. I thought he should have shot. But then he passes it back to Messi to try and make sure they're a champion. Great goalkeeper from Casillas. It could be 3 or 4-1 to Barcelona. In the centre of midfield. Iagre. Messi's made a brilliant run. Messi controls. There are several options. He went for... Oh, he won the goal. Oh, that's a magician. You get frustration probably more than anything. Look at this. He wants to take it from the right position, the referee. Messi on the ball. Here they're going directly for goal, and here they go again. It's Agnieszka on the ball. Finds Henry wide left. Messi. The 1-2 with the defender, and it went for the element of surprise. Not so good on his right foot, but again, the number of chances they're creating, Rob. The ease with which they get through this realm of defence is frightening. It does soothe the situation. Messi's been very good from both sides up front, Rob. You know you can't rest on your laurels when he's in. No, you can't. This could be a killer goal. Lionel Messi takes his time! And walks it in! Start shining the trophy now. The league may well be Barcelona's, but Mike's throw, Messi, has scored another wonder goal. I was just talking about getting caught in possession, and bang, they did it two or three times previous, they've done it again. Messi is the one person you do not want to pick the ball up there. And he goes through, one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It's Diarra compensation, it's one-back by Xabi, one-on-one, head up, thank you very much. No chance at all. Superb pressing from Xabi. And what a superb finish this is. Unbelievable stuff. That's as good a 35 minutes away from home as I've seen from Barcelona this season. They could have been 6-1 up, Rob. There is a phrase, isn't there? He's the last man in the world you want to give something to. He is literally the last man in the world. The last man on the planet that you give a ball like that to. He has Barca have the advantage. Now Samuel Eto'o hasn't got his name on the score sheet. He's made three or four brilliant saves so far, but they still find themselves 3-1 down. Messi, humiliated in front of their own supporters. And indeed, they're watching well. It's like an exhibition match at the moment, the way they're playing Barcelona, it's fantastic. Perfectly stopped by Pique, he's up there for Mane to match the tall centre-half. And the centre-halves win it. They seem to anticipate and get the sack at the Nou Camp. And they humiliated Simeone. Pimenet, the coach, shrugged his shoulders. That's a yes, Danny Alves, winning the ball back again. Everybody seems to be doing their job so well. They didn't alter their style, home or away. Eto'o, Messi. Eto'o, Messi taken down, off the ball by Marcelo. Fed the ball in, was looking for the return pass, was taken out. One thing that is different about Messi, compared to some other players of similar status and skills, is that he never gets up and complains. Just stirs his assailant in the eye, and bounces back up like a weevil. And yes, there's a Chavi. And yes, there's a Messi to Chavi. Supporters who started the day hopeful that they could close the gap on the league leaders are now rather despondent, almost turning on their team. In La Liga City took over, and that was against Barcelona. But his debut night would be counted. He'd rather disappear tonight, and also, of course, and he's fit and fresh, Lionel Messi. Three obstacles in his way around Metzelder. Can he beat the keeper? Oh, he almost did. You can't criticise him for going solo, because it's a joy to watch. Well, he skipped past Metzelder in the box, he looked up to see if anybody was there, and there should be somebody coming in the box. Just watch it here, no-one supports him, and that's why he goes for goal from the tight angle. And Henry's trying to get on the penalty spot, but the support's too late. He just makes Metzelder look silly. Messi, when he came over. The Barcelona system, we've had six players, Valdez, Puyol, Piquet, Chavi, Iniesta. He did anticipate it well. The referee got in the way twice. He wasted play on there, and they can get back into it, but this game's wide open for more goals. Henry, who's hunting for a hat-trick. Messi, who's screaming for it on this far near side of the field. Alves would like to join in. Alves to Eto'o, Eto'o to Messi. He should have scored. He'll be so angry that he's not on the score sheet yet. Messi. 1951, an antique and vintage programme from the day that Real Madrid beat Barca 4-1. It didn't go down well. Surprisingly, Laporta just turns around and gives him today's programme. And 4-2. Our own coverage of a cracking game. Lionel Messi. Takes on four defenders. Slips it in to Iniesta. Iniesta. As Floyd said, it's like two sets of schoolboys playing on the schoolyard. Messi. Chavi. Dances with defenders. Lionel Messi. It's humiliating for Real Madrid. It's heaven for Barcelona. 5-2. A genius at work. Well, it doesn't matter if it's Iniesta or Chavi or Messi or whoever it is, they're playing this simple pass and movement, pass and movement, and they've just dissected this Real Madrid defence and made them look so ordinary. Look at the pass. Trying to step up, he's not offside. Keeps his composure, and he does what he does best. And that's 36 goals for the season for Lionel Messi. Unbelievable stuff. Quality from Chavi, and a fabulous finish from the little man. 36 goals, 23 in the league. Just incredible. Six goals in four matches against Real Madrid. Eto'o wants a goal, Rob, he's desperate for a goal. A personal battle. I'm running out of words. They've just been so good, it's untrue. Can't fault them. So many big performances from so many players. And it's got to be the results. To go and get a 0-0 result is a great result for Chelsea. Seven-point lead for Barcelona with four matches. Samuel Eto'o. Barca looking for a sixth. Only half-stopped, it is six. Just what can you say? Even Pique is getting on the score sheet. His first ever league goal for Barcelona, and it is their sixth. A repeat sixth goal at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid. Really, Barcelona's been playing fantastic football. He's just onside here, Samuel Eto'o. Far post, picks him out, gets the touch on it. See it by the keeper, but not at the second attempt. It's the first time that either of these clubs have scored six goals away from home in El Gran Clásico. Nestor Weywin was a Barca 5-0 success in 1974. He does, and he's passed him. He skips past the Argentinian. Rojan fires it across, and Messi just trying to help it on its way. Trying to apply the touch to his hat-trick. That's a clever little ball. Clever play from Bojan. Messi, Eto'o, so desperately wants to score. It's all over, Rob. It's all over on the night, it's possibly all over for the season as well. What can you say about Barcelona? Dream team, perfect team, Pep Guardiola is creating a monster. An all-encompassing monster that have driven all over Real Madrid. They steamrolled them on the night by six goals to two.