El Clasico: Ten-Man Real Hold Barca
Ronaldo celebrating his goal (Foto: eurosport.com)
As expected, FC Barcelona had the better possession. Against all expectations, Real Madrid looked more dangerous in ten men. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both converted a penalty last night at Santiago Bernabeu as Real held the Catalans 1-1 in the second leg.
It’s been a tough match both literally and figuratively which found the two sides conceding seven yellow cards and a red one. Real got to ten man in the fifth minute of the second half, but that didn’t stop Mourinho’s side besiege Valdez’s goal throughout the last 40 minutes. Barcelona opened early in the second part, while the home side leveled the score late in the 83rd minute.
Hardly did the game start that Barca conceded their first yellow in the ninth minute through Adriano. The left defender took down Sami Khedira as the referee booked him as just. Ronaldo stepped up and thundered the free-kick straight to keeper Valdez. The first big chance of the night came in the 19th minute. Messi was picked by Xabi inside the box, but the Argentine’s lob was saved by Casillas. Real’s reply came two minutes later. Pique awarded them a corner on the left Ronaldo headed just wide.
The 27th minute brought the first controversial moment of the night. Casillas took down Villa inside the box but the referee gave no penalty to the dismay of Pique whose talks were cautioned with a yellow card. Di Maria got his first chance three minutes later. Alonso played the Argentine in dangerous area, but the left striker fired well wide over the bar.
Ronaldo, who was trying desperately to score at least one goal, missed a second opportunity in the 34th minute. Following an individual exquisite the Portuguese was denied by both Pique and Valdez. The last couple of minutes of the first half highlighted Messi and Ronaldo mocking two great chances. First, the Argentine failed to beat Casillas following a superb one-two with Villa. Real then broke back through Ramos who fed Ronaldo through a lovely header across the face of the goal the star headed just wide.
As for the second part, it started with a golden chance for the same hosts. Real won a free-kick just outside the box. Ronaldo took the responsibility only to hit the right-hand post. One minute later, disaster came for Mourinho’s side. Albiol fouled Villa as Barca were awarded a penalty and Madrid a straight red card. Messi converted past Casillas who could have made the save had he raised the hand higher.
Mourinho’s first measures brought Mesut Ozil in and Karim Benzema out as the German would produce a very remarkable play. Barca were then forced to replace injured Puyol with Keita. Xabi was the second to hit the bar. The midfielder was picked on the edge of the box whose finish beat Casillas but shaved the bar. The 67th minute brought three more changes. Mourinho introduced Adebayor and Arbeola for Alonso and Di Maria, while Afellay replaced Pedro on the other side.
Arbeola conceded his first yellow just ten minutes after being replaced for a crazy tackle on Iniesta, while Dani Alves got his first booking in the 79th minute following an obstruction on Adebayor. Pep Guardiola introduced Maxwell for Adriano with ten minutes late, while Real were approaching the equalizer.
Marcelo penetrated the box only to be taken down by Alves who awarded a clear penalty with eight minutes to go. Ronaldo sent Valdez the wrong way to place the ball into the left hand post for an unexpected comeback. Barca replied through two big opportunities. Casillas took Villa’s face inside the box in the 87th minute while Messi struck a powerful shot just wide seconds afterwards.
Madrid could have buried Barca in ten men in the last minute but Khedira’s lazy shot from ten yards allowed Valdez hold the ball. Xabi was the last to pick a yellow card in the stoppage time as Real grabbed precious point. Barca stay top with 85 points, while Real have no chances to claim the title. They do have instead plenty of chances to grab the King’s Cup on Wednesday against the same Catalans.
El Clasico is to continue with three more episodes. Apart from the Copa del Ray final, they are expected to fight for a place into the UEFA Champions League final. Real play Barca in the first leg of the semi finals on April 27, the second term being scheduled for May 3.
Real Madrid – Casillas; Marcelo, Carvalho, Albiol, Ramos; Pepe, Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Cristiano ROnaldo; Benzema. Reserves: Arbeola, A. Adan, E. Adebayor, E. Garay, M. Ozil, Kaka, Higuain.
FC Barcelona – Valdez; Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Adriano; Busquets, Xabi, Iniesta; Pedro, Villa; Messi. Reserves: Thiago, Maxwell, G. Milito, A. FOntas, I. Afellay, J. Pinto, S. Keita.
