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The second "El Clasico" of the season between the Spanish giants "Barcelona" and Madrid's "Real" ended in a draw. After a fierce battle and unpredictable game, "Barcelona" managed to secure a 3-3 draw with the Royal club in the final minutes at home.
The match started at a lightning pace, with Lillian Thuram's failed clearance leading to Ruud van Nistelrooy silencing the home fans at "Nou Camp" stadium with a shot from the penalty area in the fifth minute.
Although this shocked the "Barcelona" team, they quickly recovered and managed to equalize in the 11th minute after a precise combination and a sharp pass from S.Eto'o set up Lionel Messi to score from the edge of the penalty area.
However, just two minutes later, "Real" took the lead again as Oleguer committed a foul against Guti in the penalty area, and van Nistelrooy scored his second goal of the match from the penalty spot.
The Catalan club launched an attacking wave and once again found the back of the net in the 28th minute, as Ronaldinho and S.Eto'o played a quick one-two, allowing Ronaldinho to break into the penalty area and Messi to equalize with a powerful shot.
Just before half-time, "Barcelona" suffered a blow as Oleguer received his second yellow card, leaving the hosts to play with ten men for the remainder of the match. "Real" did not rush to take advantage, but extended their lead for the third time in the 73rd minute with a headed goal from Sergio Ramos.
However, "Barca" did not give up and equalized once again in added time with a sixth goal of the match, completing a hat-trick for the young Argentine star Lionel Messi. The 19-year-old received a pass from Ronaldinho near the penalty area, outsmarted the "Real" defense, and scored a goal into the far corner, securing the 3-3 draw.
In the only other match, the "Villarreal" club celebrated a victory, defeating the "Levante" footballers 2-0 in Valencia. The goals for the winners were scored by Uruguayan Diego Forlan and Dane Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Statistics:
"Levante" 0 - 2 "Villarreal"
9' [0 - 1] Diego Forlan
73' [0 - 2] Jon Dahl Tomasson
"Barcelona" 3 - 3 Madrid "Real"
5' [0 - 1] Ruud van Nistelrooy
11' [1 - 1] Lionel Messi
13' [1 - 2] Ruud van Nistelrooy (pen.)
28' [2 - 2] Lionel Messi
73' [2 - 3] Sergio Ramos
90' [3 - 3] Lionel Messi
45' Oleguer ("Barcelona") sent off from the field
