Di María miscontrols near the touchline and Messi pounces, nicking the ball away and winning a corner for Barcelona.

From the ensuing corner, the ball comes back to Messi, who delicately lobs Casillas but sees his effort come back off the post.

Messi’s floated finish over Casillas that hits the woodwork counts as an early, almost perfect shot that has the goalkeeper beaten.

From a corner routine, Alves dinks a ball over the top that Real only just manage to keep away from Messi making a run in behind.

Pepe hauls back a charging Messi and is booked as the Argentine drives forward through midfield.

Messi storms down the left wing into the box, but Pepe produces a strong tackle to stop him before he can get a shot away.

Messi reacts after a semi-elbow from Carvalho off the ball, goes to ground, and controversially receives a yellow card from the referee.

Messi puts the ball in the net, but the goal is disallowed as Pedro is penalised for a foul on Pepe in the build-up.

Messi threads a wonderfully weighted through ball for Villa, who beats the offside trap and slams a clinical finish past Casillas for Barcelona’s third.

Again Messi slices the Real defence open with a brilliant pass for Villa, who races through and finishes past Casillas to make it 4-0.

Messi drives into the box as Barca pour forward, but his run is halted by Lass Diarra’s challenge.

Messi beats Arbeloa as he drives into the area but overelaborates with extra turns and eventually loses possession.

In stoppage time Ramos lunges in with a shocking tackle that poleaxes Messi, sparking a mass confrontation and earning the defender a straight red card.