Lionel Messi beats Cristiano Ronaldo to score more goals in 2017

Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal all find the net as Real Madrid fall 14 points behind in La Liga, and their title is surely gone.

Madrid trails Barcelona by 11 points with a game in hand before the “clasico”. “We are going to have to play a good match against a very good rival”. But this (the title race) is not over.

Suarez rounded off a flowing counter-attack to open the scoring before Messi blasted home a penalty after Madrid defender Dani Carvajal was sent-off for punching the ball off the goal line.

“We took another step forward in the league but I don’t rule out Madrid”, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said.

Sunday El Clasico was overwhelmed by outstanding Barcelona’ performance. No shots on target for the hosts as the champions pushed hard throughout.

Messi got Barcelona’s second score after a handball in the box in the 63rd minute.

According to Zidane, the team enjoyed a highly successful 2017 despite the late setbacks.

However, Valverde played down concerns as Barca also visited to Madrid to face Atletico in October without problems amid heightened political tension following violent clashes in a banned independence referendum called by separatists.

Zidane defended his choice after the stinging loss.

Inside two minutes Ronaldo nodded in off the crossbar but saw his effort correctly ruled out for offside, before the 2017 Ballon d’Or victor swiped at thin air in the box with his left foot when set up by Toni Kroos.

Then Suarez scored the opener.

It’s been another prolific season for Messi, with the Barca star up to 14 goals in 17 matches in La Liga and 18 strikes in 25 appearances in all competitions.

Madrid collapsed after falling behind, losing ball after ball to Barcelona.

Messi played in Suarez whose shot was saved by Navas. But Messi did stand in front of the fans he loves to torment and celebrated his goal, from the penalty spot, that just so happened to be the goal that made him the sole holder of the record for number of goals for any player of the top 5 leagues in Europe, leaving Gerd Muller behind.

Madrid nearly pulled a goal back through substitute Gareth Bale but his close range strike was saved by Ter Stegen.

Lionel Messi, one of the three goal-scorers for Barcelona, was elated having finished the year on a great note.

Both sides have injury worries, with Cristiano Ronaldo training in the gym because of a knock, while Jordi Alba missed Wednesday’s training session for Barcelona.

The only reference to Spain’s political crisis came from Ramos, who made a joke about Catalonia’s fugitive former leader, Carles Puigdemont.

“I always believe in my players, believe in communicating with my players”, Zidane added.