Magnificent Messi rescues Barca 10

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BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi completed a stunning hat-trick in stoppage time to earn 10-man Barcelona a 3-3 draw against Real Madrid in front of 98,000 fans at the Nou Camp.

Three times Real went ahead in a pulsating Prima Liga encounter and Barcelona had to play the entire second half a man short after Oleguer was sent off just before half-time, but Messi came to the home side's rescue at the last gasp.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored twice for Real in the opening 13 minutes, Messi scoring his first leveler in the 11th and then equalizing again after 28 minutes.

The match exploded into life from the start, Van Nistelrooy putting Real in front after five minutes after Lilian Thuram failed to cut out Gonzalo Higuain's cross.

The Dutchman curled a right-footed shot past Victor Valdes but it took Barcelona only six minutes to draw level.

Real keeper Iker Casillas saved well with his legs to foil Samuel Eto'o, who had burst clear, but almost immediately Messi equalized as Real looked hopefully for an offside flag.

Two minutes later Real were back in front after Oleguer brought down Guti in the penalty area, to collect his first yellow card. Van Nistelrooy stepped up to send Valdes the wrong way and score from the spot.

Casillas produced another fine save to thwart Eto'o but after 28 minutes it was all square again when Messi crashed in the rebound after Casillas had kept out a Ronaldinho effort.

The pulsating excitement continued with Higuain hitting the Barca woodwork and straight afterwards at the other end Salgado clearing off the Real goal-line.

The half erupted in a 45th minute climax when Oleguer's rugged challenge from behind on Gago earned him a second yellow and condemned Barcelona to face the second period a man short.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard sacrificed striker Eto'o for Sylvinho to make up for Oleguer's departure but gradually the depleted home side began to find it difficult to resist Real's pressure.

Three times in quick succession Valdes made fine saves to prevent Van Nistelrooy completing his hat-trick but in the 73rd minute Real again went ahead.

Sergio Ramos met a Guti free kick at the near post and flicked his header past the Barcelona keeper.

Instead of caving in Barcelona threw everything at Real in the closing stages and were rewarded when the 19-year-old Messi took a pass from Ronaldinho, floated past Helguera and lashed in the third goal, which gave Barcelona the point needed to edge back to the top of the table.

Sevilla can go three points clear if they win at Gimnastic on Sunday.

Villarreal victorious

Goals from Uruguay striker Diego Forlan and Denmark international Jon Dahl Tomasson earned Villarreal a 2-0 win at struggling Levante on Saturday.

Forlan put Villarreal in front after nine minutes, curling a superb right-foot shot round keeper Jose Molina.

Levante put Villarreal under heavy pressure for long periods and had several good chances but the visitors secured the victory when Tomasson fired a shot under Molina 17 minutes from time.

Forlan went off midway through the second half with a leg injury.

Villarreal's fourth away win of the season pushed them up to 11th place. Levante are two points above the relegation zone with all their immediate rivals yet to play this weekend.

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