The Argentine was strangely out of sorts as Barcelona slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu that saw the hosts move above them in the table

This was a free hit for Barcelona but Real Madrid’s season was on the line. They had to dig deep, and they did.

Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz’s goals earned them a 2-0 Clasico victory which took them a point clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the Liga table and gave them the better head-to-head record, which could be crucial in such a tight title race.

Certainly, there is little to choose between the two teams, as Sunday’s game showed. This entertaining, end-to-end battle at the Santiago Bernabeu between two clearly flawed teams could have gone either way.

Usually when that’s the case, Lionel Messi is the deciding factor, but the Argentine didn’t look himself, turning in a strangely lethargic, almost lifeless display.

There have been persistent stories that he’s not fully fit and is carrying a thigh problem, one which is obviously not serious enough to stop him from playing – but might just be throwing him off his perfectly calibrated best.

There was one moment which emphasised that clearly. With Madrid ahead, Frenkie de Jong burst downfield, piling past Madrid players and feeding Messi with a perfect through ball.

Nearly 80,000 in the stadium and hundreds of millions around the world held their breath, expecting the Argentine star to race clear and fire home, as he has done so many times in the past.

But Messi was tracked by Marcelo, Zinedine Zidane’s surprise pick ahead of Ferland Mendy. Perhaps the coach was looking for the attacking upside rather than worrying about the left-back’s defensive deficiencies but the Brazilian put one in the eyes of his doubters.

Marcelo stayed alongside Messi and helped dispossess him before celebrating wildly, as if he had scored a goal. This was worth more, and he knew it.

They took advantage of Barcelona’s desperation and tiredness at the end, with substitute Mariano – on his first league appearance of the season – racing away from Samuel Umtiti to double the hosts’ advantage in injury time.

This was how deep Madrid had to go, with Eden Hazard injured, Karim Benzema and Luka Jovic badly out of form, and Gareth Bale not trusted.

Mariano killed the game – but breathed life back into the title race.