Leo Messi hits 40 Clásicos

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona faced each other again on Wednesday in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. The blaugranes visited the Santiago Bernabéu in search of a sixth successive final appearance in a Clásico that will be a special one for Leo Messi as the Argentine made his 40th appearance against Real Madrid. In his 40 appearances against Barça's biggest rivals Messi has scored no less than 26 goals. We take a look back at some great 'Clásico' moment from the Barça number 10: 

Clásico number 3: FC Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid

His first at Camp Nou after two in the Bernabéu, Leo Messi had a dream debut in the fixture in front of the home fans in the 2006/07 season. 

Clásico number 6: Real Madrid 2-6 FC Barcelona 

One of the great displays in Barça history. On that historic day the blaugranes sealed the league part of the treble in 2009 with Messi scoring twice and creating another. 

Clásico number 12: Real Madrid 0-2 FC Barcelona

This was the last time that the two sides faced each other in the Champions League. In the 2010/11 season in the first leg of their semi-final, Leo Messi turned the tie Barça's way in the Santiago Bernabéu with two goals, the second of which was something to behold in itself. 

Clásico number 15: FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid

 The return leg of the Spanish Super Cup in 2011. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Madrid, the trophy was set to be decided at Camp Nou. On a warm August evening Leo Messi scored a brace which included an 88th minute to give Pep Guardiola's team their first trophy of the season.  

Clásico number 27: Real Madrid 3-4 FC Barcelona

A frenetic league game from the 2013/14 season which was decided, ultimately, by a Leo Messi hat-trick which allowed Barça to leave the Bernabéu again with all three points. 

Clásico number 34: Real Madrid 2-3 FC Barcelona

Once again away from home Leo Messi offered up another masterclass in the 2016/17 season. The Argentine scored twice in the win, the second coming in the last minute to win the game and to top it all off it was his 500th as a Barça player. Does it get any better? 

Clásico number 37: Real Madrid 0-3 FC Barcelona

Just before Christmas in the 2017/18 season Barça visited the Santiago Bernabéu. Ernesto Valverde's team took the victory with Leo Messi scoring again and providing an assist for Aleix Vidal in another virtuoso performance.