La Liga: Lionel Messi’s 500th goal helps Barcelona defeat Madrid by 3-2

Lionel Messi scored his 500^th Barcelona goal with the final kick of the game to register a Clasico 3-2 win against Real Madrid. After the stunning win, both teams now have equal points at the top of La Liga.

Real Madrid’s Casemiro opened the attack which was overturned by goals from Messi and Ivan Rakitic.

James Rodriguez who rescued a point for the hosts by striking a goal in 86^th minute to make the score 2-2.

But Messi’s second goal in the final minute of added time earned Barca a vital win in the title race that leaves both sides with 75 points, although Madrid has a game in hand.

Earlier, Barcelona had decided to leave Neymar out of the decisive "Clasico" against Real Madrid because of the legal uncertainty over an appeal to overturn his suspension.    

Neymar was handed a two-game suspension for sarcastically applauding an assistant referee after being sent off in a 2-0 loss at Malaga on April 8.