The Santiago Bernabéu is packed to capacity as the biggest showdown in Spanish soccer – between Real Madrid and fierce rivals Barcelona – gets underway.

Immediately Barça midfielder Xavi Hernández has the ball at his feet and  instinct takes over as he lays out a classy pass to the diminutive striker Lionel Messi, who is hovering in the penalty area.

With his customary guile, Messi unleashes a cheeky shot which narrowly  flies over the crossbar. Unbelievably, Messi has missed a sitter – only this time it’s on an EA Sports’ FIFA 12 game courtesy of Kaizer Chiefs striker Lehlohonolo Majoro’s clumsy work with the console of his PlayStation.

“That should’ve been a goal,” he shouts in disappointment as he collapses onto his cream leather couch at his three-bedroom double-storey home in upmarket Ruimsig on Joburg’s West Rand.

Read more in the latest DRUM – 18 October 2012