Barcelona striker Lionel Messi's hat-trick helped the club to a 4-3 win against Real Madrid in a seven goal El Clasico thriller.
Barcelona have moved up to third place in the La Liga standings, thanks to Messi's hat-trick, just a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and Madrid, who is second in place.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the sides went in level 2-2 at half-time as a record 19th goal against Madrid from Messi cancelled out Karim Benzema's double after Andres Iniesta had put Barca in front.
Cristiano Ronaldo then put his club ahead in the game, which was followed by Madrid captain Sergio Ramos' dismissal as he had pulled down Neymar inside the box 10 minutes later and went on to be leveled by Messi scoring another goal.
Messi scored his third goal with another penalty seven minutes from game and taking Barcelona to win the match when Xabi Alonso and Dani Carvajal crowded in on Andres Iniesta just inside the Madrid penalty area, the report added.
The outcome of the game has also left the destiny of the La Liga title a compulsive, tight and three-horse race, the report added.
