How Messi has changed in 'Clasicos'

That Messi has lacked goals, at least in the 'Clasicos' is something that proven to be true with stats in hand. The Argentine star failed to score in his fourth consecutive 'Clasico' this Wednesday. 

Messi's contribution has always varied depending on what the team needs and now the Barca star and captain has taken a step back to contribute in Barca's creative play. 

The striker had chances to score this Wednesday like the one he missed after Frenkie de Jong's low cross into the area. He did not score, but he was very good in everything else. Barca's chances were created by him. 

Of the 46 passes he game, 40 of them were in Real Madrid territory and many of them, looking for Jordi Alba, taking advantage of that now common connection between both parties. 

In some phases of the match he hardly appeared. That was more because of Zidane's sides good work in defence rather than anything else. And Barcelona noted it, they definitely did note it. Valverde's men suffered a great deal when they did not find Messi. 

He is the top scorer in 'Clasico' history, but because of Barcelona's play under Valverde, Messi has to work in other areas of the pitch to be successful. Against Real Madrid, he is scoring less and less goals, but the Argentine is becoming more important at Barca.