Messi destroys Real Madrid as Barça muscle back in on title race

Messi destroys Real Madrid as Barça muscle back in on title race

Two goals from Leo and another from Rakitic took Barça top of the table

Luis Enrique's side have five games left but Real Madrid have a game in hand

Barcelona's title hopes were revived on Sunday as Lionel Messi scored a stunning stoppage time winner against 10-man Real Madrid. 

James Rodriguez's late goal had looked set to give Madrid a share of the spoils, but Messi scored with the last kick of the game to move Barça to the top of the table -- although Zinedine Zidane's side have a game in hand. 

Madrid had taken the lead through Casemiro, only for Messi to equalise four minutes later. Ivan Rakitic then gave Barça the lead after the break, with Sergio Ramos then sent off for a two-footed tackle on Messi. 

The drama didn't end there, though, and James' goal set up a frantic finale, which ended with Messi scoring his 500th Barça goal from an attack led by Sergi Roberto. 

Luis Enrique's side go to the top of the table courtesy of their superior head to head record -- both sides have 72 points -- but only have five games left while Madrid have six. 

This game was packed with drama from the off. Samuel Umtiti was lucky not to give a penalty away for a foul on Ronaldo in the second minute and Marcelo was lucky to go unpunished when his elbow on Messi drew blood. 

Casemiro, was lucky, too. He was booked for an early foul on Messi and his persistent fouling which followed pushed him close to a dismissal. 

Marc-Andre ter Stegen was the busier of the keepers in the first half, stopping shots from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema before Casemiro tapped home the opener after Ramos had hit the post following Barça's failure to clear a corner. 

Messi then levelled -- while holding some tissue to deal with his bleeding lip -- before Bale was forced off with a calf problem. 

Things didn't slow down in the second half and both goalkeepers were busy. Ter Stegen and Keylor Navas both made some fine saves, although the Costa Rican's were perhaps more impressive. 

But he could do little about Rakitic's rocket which flew in from the edge of the box and looked set to give Barça the win. 

Gerard Pique could have sealed things when he had a golden chance from six-yards, but Navas saved. 

When Ramos was sent off for a lunge on Messi -- and the defender did not leave the pitch quietly -- it looked like Barça would hold on, but substitute James turned home a Marcelo cross in the 85th minute to draw things level. 

And still we weren't finished. A brilliant run from Sergi Roberto set up one last chance for Barcelona and they didn't disappoint. Jordi Alba pulled the ball back and there was Messi to bend home his 500th goal in Barça colours. 

What a time to score it, too. Off came his shirt and it was held up in front of the Madrid fans. Messi was booked for the celebration, but it may be the greatest booking the greatest player to play the game has ever picked up.