HOLA!

Well...it was another fantastic El Clasico at Nou Camp on Monday morning (Malaysian time) as Barcelona drew 2-2 with Real Madrid.

And to spice it up, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo starred in the blockbuster watched by 400 million all over the planet on TV,  by scoring both goals for their respective team.

El Clasico, like it or not, is arguably the best in the football business as it attracts a lot of attention. There is a lot of passion and drama involved too besides the high quality Barca and Real have been producing traditionally.

Manchester United against Liverpool and AC Milan against Inter Milan are huge too but there is something extra when it comes to El Clasico.

El Loco was one of those who skipped sleep to watch the action and he just can't wait for the next episode. Actually, El Loco did not sleep at all on Monday morning as he also witnessed the big match between two in-form teams Atletico Madrid and Malaga.

Real Madrid's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (R) vies for the ball with Argentinian striker Lionel Messi (L) of FC Barcelona. Pix: EPAOf course, Atletico have superstar of their own called El Tigre or Radamel Falcao.

Back to El Clasico.

Both Messi and Ronaldo were a delight to watch as they tried hard to help their respective team to get a good result. 

So who were better at Nou Camp?

Pretty difficult to say as both were fantastic, like Real manager Jose Mourinho said: "These two are from different planet."

But El Loco, if forced, would pick Messi as he is capable of producing that individual magic more. Of course, you are entitled to your own opinion, like they say.

Individual magic? Yes...reminds one of Argentine legend Diego Maradona.

And Messi has proven this time and time again and also on Monday morning when at times there were three or four Real players trying to stop him on his path near the danger zone.

Remember the freekick which resulted in Barca's second goal. It was simply stunning and apparently some of the 98,000 Barca supporters actually did not realise that the ball already rocked the net - based on their late reaction.

That goal deserves an award for the magical moment produced. And Messi is only 25, although it seems he has been playing for a long time now. This is because he started playing for Barca when he was 16. That's why.

FC Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi (L) shakes hands with Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas (R) after their Spanish Primera Division soccer match at Nou Camp in Barcelona, Spain, 07 October 2012. Pix: EPAOkay. While waiting for the next El Clasico, Barca are certainly enjoying a great start to the season They have won six and drew once from the seven matches thus far to top the table. Real, on the other hand, are fifth with 11 points from three wins and two draws.

Interestingly, Atletico have now the same number of points with Barca. Diego Simeone's men are enjoying a great start to the season as well and show that they may just pose the challenge to Barca and Real in the race title.

Why not? If Falcao is injury free and keep on scoring and Atletico do not suffer dive in form.

Real goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, for that matter, believes this season's title battle is a three-horse race.

"For the Liga we must recognize the numbers and if now Barca, Atletico and Malaga are ahead (of Real) it is because they have done better. But there remains many days ahead," he said 

"We cannot lose more points. We should not rule out Atletico.

"It's not surprising that Atletico is up there. Since Simeone arrived he has given them a good mentality and I think they can be up there fighting for the title."

Well said.

It has been some time that a team besides Barca and Real have won the title. The last was in the 2002-2003 season when Valencia won it.

The last time Atletico emerged champions was way back in the 1995-1996 season.

Whatever, the race title will be more interesting if Atletico can give a challenge to Barca and Real.

Primera Liga, like all other leagues, will take an international break to cater for the World Cup qualifiers.

Messi will go back to Argentina and Ronaldo back to Portugal.

Looking forward for more magic here, of course.

Adios!

--mD