Lionel Messi ● Greatest Individual Performance vs Real Madrid CF ► FCB 5-0 RMA

It's almost impossible to tear them apart. The festivities begin. You are one of a global audience tonight of around 400 million people who are tuned in for this game. The greatest game on earth they call it. Here's Xavi. Missed control from Alves. Benzema gets into the thrust of things. An unexpected call for the Frenchman tonight. Pedro. It is out to Marcelo who tries to play his way out of defence and bumps into his fellow countryman Dani Alves. Lionel Messi is still awaiting his first touch of the ball with five minutes gone. That looked like a corner. The assistant didn't give it. Messi picks up and goes on his first major dribble of the evening. He certainly did look like it was a near corner, Rob, but Messi didn't give it up, did he? And then the ball appeared to be glued to his foot. Di Maria clearly takes the ball out of play. Tenacious as ever. Messi wins it back. The ball's glued to his foot. Carvalho comes to the rescue of Real Madrid in the end. Every Real Madrid player is called onto defensive duty. Xavi stride across the six. Clever free kick. It was a missed swipe from Alves. Now Messi flicks it in. A wonderful attempt. Pure genius. He's in the mood. It took him two or three minutes, didn't it, to get in the game. He certainly has now. Alves with the cross. It's all Barcelona in the opening stage of this game. They've got another corner. There's no roof on this stadium. If there was, the fans would be raising it. 97,000 screaming and shouting. Good early pressure from Barcelona, Rob, to get into their passing game. You can see Messi curling it in off the far post almost. That's exactly what he's trying to do. Beat Casillas. Chip Casillas. Casillas has got no chance. Xavi Alonso is there on hand as well. A glimpse of Messi there. But he works all that attack himself. He won the corner, didn't he, from the initial corner. A shot from Alves was half a chance as well from Messi leading up to the scoring. Pique. Middle lay-off from Pedro to Xavi. To Pedro. Xavi to Alves. Lionel Messi. Ticks for Barcelona. Alves stopped by Marcelo. Messi picks up. Football being played at great neck speed by Barcelona. Pedro. Alves. Put the ball through. Messi's onside. Perfectly timed. Lays it inside. Pepe's having a very good game at centre-half for Real Madrid. He read that pass from Messi really well. Messi's movement off the ball. From a standing start, he changes pace. Loses anyone who's anywhere near marking him. He can find space in the most congested of areas. Xavi controlling his manner. Messi caressing the ball to Iniesta. He has Villar outside. Oh, plays it inside. Great tackle from Alves. Expecting Pique's head or something like that to be thrown onto the field. All animal body parts were confiscated for the game. But when Mourinho did come out, the reception was lukewarm for the former linguist. Oh, no. Referee said that Xabi Alonso caught him fairly. So Xabi Alonso, I think, gets enough of the ball with the tackle with Messi. Real Madrid can't get a kick. Lionel Messi has been a big part player so far. Caressing the ball. World and European player of the year. This man, Lionel Messi, thinks that one of the Spanish World Cup winners will get this year. Well, they're stretching the Real Madrid back four, Robben. They're trying to open up a gap between Carvalho and Peté. Messi. Any player who likes to take more than one touch. Pedro. Barca continue through David Villa. Toe to toe with Ramos. Gets the cross in to the Barcelona. The flying Pedro. Mentally, they're going to find it hard to find a way back. Barcelona absolutely dominant at the moment. Messi. Peté stretches again. All finds, all's kindly to Iniesta. Scrambled away by Iker Casillas. Real Madrid are rattled. Cristiano Ronaldo. Nothing that's changed the shape of the team. Messi. He hasn't taken a grip of the game yet. Into the old enemy. Ronaldo. Messi. Now there's Xavi. He's suffering with a bit of a back injury on the halfway line. Won't be carrying anybody, Real Madrid. It's all hands to the pump at the moment. It is and it is. They're really getting the runaround, Robben, as Barcelona keep possession as they did for that second goal. But they're not only keep possession, they're playing with purpose as well. They're getting the ball forward quickly, keeping it on the ground, the movement of the ball. It's absolutely fantastic. The technique we expect from Barcelona. They have at times been bright on the counter-attack. You expect because of the reputation of the players when you see Benzema, Ronaldo, Di Maria running with the ball, you expect something to happen. Torn apart by Barcelona at the moment. It's all a footballing lesson. Messi. Busquets. A backflip from Busquets. Messi. Xavi. Rozier's corner. It's a poor one. It falls to Lionel Messi. He's been dormant for most of the first half. Messi. That's what is most dangerous. Pepe tries to wrap his arm around him and can't stop him. Now Lionel Messi. It was maybe an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. But it's got to be a yellow. He's so persistent in trying to stay on his feet, isn't he? Evades tackles, they barge in, they knock him. He doesn't go to ground. He's got wonderful balance. But the right decision from the referee there is clearly fouled by Pepe. Not once, but twice. We've had a rash three minutes. Four yellow cards in the space of three minutes. Now David is offside. It gives it an edge to the game, doesn't it? They're two-nil ahead. David Villa with a bit more concentration there. Could have beat the offside trap there. Certainly a risk he should be taking. Messi. Xavi. Alves. Disguised pass. Look one way past it, the other. Just nothing is working for Real Madrid. They've got to stick with it. Just wondering whether Jose Mourinho rules the decision not to play the extra midfield player. Lionel Messi gets into his stride and gets off one of his little sticks of dynamite. It's nine consecutive games he's scored goals in. He's had a couple of decent attempts tonight. Again working his magic. Predominantly all left foot there. Gets the shot in from distance. Can't hit the target on this occasion. Look at the balance and the skill. The touch. You're gonna have to stick with it. It's a young team. Jose Mourinho said not experienced. Messi has stolen the ball. He doesn't have support. He might have to go solo. He's drawn Pepe. But what a brilliant tackle that was by Pepe. It's a daunting prospect there for Pepe, wasn't it? One against one against Lionel Messi. You see Messi stole the ball off of Ramos. He's bearing down on goal. Time to perfection the challenge for Pepe there. David Villa in there again. Threatening that rather high line of Real Madrid defense are holding. Running from deep. Mourinho was saying that he wasn't too happy with the appointment of Vitor Aldegonzalez. Guardiola was very happy. Ever the statesman. But something like the referee could be blamed for this Real Madrid performance. Messi goes down off the ball there. Not one to take a dive but there was a connection with Cavallo. And this is a big call for the referee. I'm not sure why Cavallo got involved with Messi. Maybe a good tackle. It wasn't a dive from Messi. It was a fair challenge from Cavallo who then accused Messi of diving. Well the referee is telling Messi to get onto his feet. And he shows the yellow card to the Barcelona man. Now Messi has accepted it. You can see the initial challenge from Cavallo. It's a good challenge. No complaints from Messi. Cavallo was remonstrating with the referee that Messi had dived. There's an elbow there from Cavallo. Might not have been the most forceful elbow but it was an elbow. And I think Cavallo can count himself fortunate. The referee didn't see. I don't think he's seen that Rob. Didn't see Messi go to ground and he's guessed. Remember that Barcelona went 21 years without defeat against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou. They've won the last two here and they're in a very good position in the first half. Well it's living up to the expectations. The most eagerly anticipated game of football in Europe. It's Barcelona who are bossing it. Shows a petulance of Cristiano Ronaldo. One of five players booked in the first half. With devastating effect. Well Barcelona have bossed the first half. They've had the steamroller effect on Real Madrid who've been chasing around. They've certainly got the injuries out for them. Messi to Alves. Flip over the top David Villa. Well they're the only one to have urged these players and I'm sure Carlos Puyol as well would have done everything in their power to keep a clean sheet. Don't let Real Madrid back in it. There's Lionel Messi taking on all comers right across the 18-yard box. Loose ball in the area. Pepe flies in. Comes to David Villa. Tremendous stop. Real Madrid having to throw bodies in the way as Barcelona continue in the second half. Well they started the first. Oh there was a push in there apparently. The referee has given a free kick to Real Madrid. Mighty relief in the capital. Alves to Xavi. They shuffle the ball around at breakneck speed. Messi. Little pirouette. Xavi. An overcooked cross. Messi playing a more central role in the second half. That's allowing Marcelo to break free. There's a little bit Jose Mourinho can do if his players can't pass over 12 yards. It was a good opportunity for them and a little bit of a counter-attack there. Xolosana Dior will try and stiffen things up in midfield. In five minutes of this half he's been shadowing Xavi in particular. It's not an easy task is it? That was the sixth yellow card of the game. Alves to Pedro. Xavi in on Messi. Head down. Drawing defenders. Threading it through. Tuchy could save. That's the side of the net and not the back of the net. That would have been good night Real Madrid. You know rather than making that run across midfield there was three or four different options on that Barcelona could have used. You know sometimes in those positions you're looking for one option and yes there was here wide on the left. Messi's running through there. He spots Xavi again making that forward run from midfield. There's two opportunities. Can't get the third goal which will kill the game off. Perez just takes a second to inch their way back into the game. Messi there with a through ball to Xavi. Just couldn't get the angle right in the finish. Puts it into the side netting. Xavi. Busquets to Iniesta. The Spanish World Cup midfield. Here's the man who won the World Cup. Iniesta threading it through. Marcelo had to stretch. Pedro would have been onside. Marcelo hits it long. They're just not finding Cristiano Ronaldo. Alves. He has gone too early again so he has to hold his pass. Now Messi. Drifting. Driving. David Villa. 3-0. Barcelona goal. Another typical Barcelona performance but the team they're ripping apart tonight are Real Madrid. It's a great partnership that's really blossoming now from Lionel Messi and David Villa. And again far too much time afforded to the Barcelona attacking players without Real Madrid closing them down. Very line work there again on trying to use an offside trap. David Villa had time to run across the line hold his run right to the perfect moment. They're arguing Real Madrid that Villa was leaning offside and still arguing that he was offside. He wasn't waiting around. No I'm fully in the striker's union and I think it's a benefit should go to the attacking player. Wonderful first touch to take it away from the defender. Head down. Gets the technique right. Drives it towards the far post. Goal scorer's instinct. Top top striker. Well the casualty of that move was Pedro Rodriguez who's been receiving treatment since the goal was scored. See the frustration there on Iker Casillas. Barcelona have been absolutely awesome tonight. Wonderful in possession. As you said they mentioned earlier they got eight goals last week against Almeria but this is three stunning goals against Real Madrid unbeaten this season. Benzema to Lasana Diarra. One back by Chavi. Now Brusquets. Referee does well. Keeps it moving. It's moving very smoothly with Lionel Messi. Messi instant. Villa brilliant right by Villa. Can he finish it off? He can! The goal stop. It's official now Robinson turning into a row. They just love that pass inside the fullback. The easy option is to give it to the white player's feet and let him run at the defender but they're so aware that the white players will look to run across and get the pass, receive the pass inside the fullback. Essentially then it becomes a one-on-one versus the goalkeeper and David Villa doesn't miss. A superb goal. This team are really really special. Now they look up to the heavens. Real Madrid gobsmacked. Where will it stop? Humiliation for Jose Mourinho and his troops. You see that wonderful pass from Messi but it's the angle of the pass. It's the movement of David Villa and of course let's not forget the finish outside of the right foot underneath the advancing Casillas. Josh's shoulder. Jinx pass to defenders. Hold on there's a back pass there and Iker Casillas has to come off his line. Messi is given offside. It's Sunday league defending from Real Madrid. It is Rob. They're on the ropes. This season they've dominated all the games they've played in and I must admit I haven't been convinced this season about Real Madrid. I was waiting for a real big test. This was their test tonight. At the moment you have to say they're failing it miserably. Chelsea into Milan. It's been success all along the way. It's been a long time since he's been suffering like most managers do from time to time on a game like this. Lionel Messi drives inside again and the referee brings it back for the first of a succession of fouls on Real Madrid have lost only one of their last 36 matches. That was against Barcelona. The last time they were beaten it was against Barcelona. They had record stats last year. Real Madrid record number of points, the best ever away wins, their most ever away goals but they were still second best to Barcelona. Manuel Pellegrini was a casualty due to that so close last season. I think he did well last year Pellegrini. I think we have to acknowledge that Barcelona are streets ahead of Real Madrid at the moment. They scored eight against Real Madrid. They're looking for their fifth. This Messi miscontrols, allowing Pepe a sight of the ball, slams it into the ground. Much to their amusement. I think in fairness to Pepe, I think he's had a decent game tonight. Pedro, the back heel. Pepe's made some telling challenges. Too many of his teammates I think in defence tonight have really struggled against the move and the swift pass into Barcelona. Messi's coming in for some rough treatment. Not the worst tackle he's going to enjoy tonight. He's just taken his wedding ring off and left it on the touchline for the referee's assistant to dance over. The Ollehs have started again. It is a bit like watching a ball fight at the moment. Barcelona, the Matadors. Real Madrid, the wary ball. They've learned to play football very much the Cruyff way. Guardiola was a disciple of Cruyff. What a legacy it is. To stop it, Pedro is in on goal. Could have been 1-0 or 0-0. I think you'll see more protests from Barcelona players. Barca probably shows some professional sympathy to Cavalli. He goes flying in with the tackle there, but I think under any of the circumstances that had to be a red card tonight. To try and stop the Barcelona attack, his defence haven't been up to it. Chavi to Iniesta. Perfectly timed, Lionel Messi into his little stride. Blocked by Lassana Diallo. Laid forward from Lionel Messi. Messi did a good tackle initially from Lassana Diallo, bumped over by Abeloa. Kaderi with a late challenge on Iniesta. Probably the closest he's got to Pepe. Sticking to the task. Messi. Lovely touch. Now he's got his chance. Tremendous save from Iker Casillas. Keeping some pride for Real Madrid. Misses in a drought. 77 minutes. There's another off the ball. Has allowed Messi away here. Messi drives inside, twists and turns, but takes on one defender too many. Yeah, that's better defending from Abeloa. Open out his teammate, Calvalli. Teammate Calvalli. Sheer jubilation from the Barcelona players. Right from the first minute, they brought their A game into this game tonight. Frustration for Real Madrid. They've tried to keep going, but really, really difficult for them. We've seen how much work they've got to do now to try and catch up with Barcelona. Back-to-back titles. I'm sure he will. As I said, they're a good age. Jose Mourinho's going to have to be patient. The Real Madrid president's going to have to be patient. So it could take some considerable while now for Real Madrid to catch Barcelona. Now, let's see. Derby debut for the new Barcelona president on the left-hand side there, Sandro Rossell. He's kept him where he looks really cheesed off, doesn't he? I'm not sure that transmits the best emotional feelings possible to his teammates that are chasing the ball all night, having a hard time from Real Madrid. Relied on the offside trap. That hasn't worked. Abidal. We did touch early on in the game that Barcelona had only one player who'd not tasted the Clásico experience before, and Real Madrid had a number of debutants in this situation, and it has told. It has, but I think, in all honesty, Rob, I think the quality has been far better. That's been the difference between the two teams. One in three minutes from Barcelona. Absolutely brilliant. Now they're aiming for their fifth as we're into stoppage time. Bozsian's cross. Will it be five? It will! He joins the party. It's Jeffrey, sorry, Jeffrey the substitute has joined the party. A great goal for another one of the Barcelona boys who's come through the system. Look at the celebrations, Rob, of the players. The despair again of Real Madrid. Incisive attack in play. En masse. Every member of the squad, the coaching department, everybody's there. Pique holding five fingers up. A five-nil win against Real Madrid. More than the home supporters expected tonight. They expected a much more closer encounter. Of all of the teams celebrating together on the touchline, well at dawn, the club's museum and the press room here where they've got all the pictures of the great games over the years. Another terrible tackle from Cavalio and it's going to end very ugly and there's a punch down there and it's now getting very very nasty. Well the referee has sent off Cavalio and he's got a series of other spats to sort out as well. Pushing and shoving and arguing. A yellow card to Xavi amid the melee and the medical men are working one of the Barcelona players as well. It's Bernal Messi who's down and was apparently floored. Also the referee saw that. He's taking advice from his assistants on the talkback. Well that was the first foul. That was Cavalio's offence. And then Messi and Puyol both went to the floor. That was Messi taken down. And it's Ramos who I think takes down Messi. I'm sure De Bosque won't be pleased to see Spanish team fight amongst each other. Puyol, Ramos, Xavi, Pique. It was a hefty challenge on Messi. The frustration spilling over for the Real Madrid players. We see the Real Madrid captain, the Spanish captain as well trying to keep the peace. He said last year when they lost against Barcelona but still went through in the Champions League that it was the most beautiful loss of his life. Tonight is certainly the ugliest loss of his life. And that picture says it all doesn't it for Cristiano Ronaldo. Well the midnight Ramos was sent off. Cavalio stayed on. Guardiola looks cool as personified as he heads down the tunnel. But I'm sorry as he gets into the changing room he will weep for delight. Casillas and Co can't wait to get out of this stadium quick enough. A five goal humiliation. A famous victory for Barcelona. Five goals tonight, five wins in succession.