FC Barcelona have guaranteed a place into the Champions League final after holding Real Madrid in a 1-1 draw at the Camo Nou. Without Jose Mourinho on the touchline, but with Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch, Real failed to make the progress, the aggregate result going 3-1 to the Catalans. Pedro brought the first lead for Barca, while Marcelo leveled the score minutes later. Even so, Madrid had been condemned to score at least three goals to reach the last term, the first leg going 0-2 to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Foto Source: chickendinner.co.uk
As expected, it’s been an uptight game which brought six yellow cards, five for Real and one for Barca. Madird were the first to pick a yellow through Carvalho following an ugly foul on Messi. The Argentine was the first to put some pressure on Casillas. Messi missed a great opportunity in the 32nd minute. Villa played the Ballon D’Or on the edge of the box, but the striker hit it wide in what should have been a more difficult test for the keeper. A similar scene took place one minute later so the scoreboard remained unchanged.
Real got their first reply in the 40th minute. Ronaldo created an individual action on the right, finishing it with a lovely pass for Di Maria. Unfortunately, Valdez intercepted the ball to make the clearance nine yards out. Carvalho then fouled Messi but the Portuguese avoided a second yellow. The first 45 minutes went scoreless, but the first goal could be felt in the air.
As for the second part, it found Real scoring an opener the referee disallowed in the end. Ronaldo played Higuain inside the box to beat Valdez with a well-placed strike into the far post. To the dismay of the visitors, the referee stopped the game for a foul on Mascherano, though Ronaldo didn’t intend to hit the midfielder. Frustration encompassed the white shirts as Diarra picked a yellow right afterwards and following a tough challenge on Messi.
Pedro brought the first lead in the 54th minute. Iniesta found the striker with a tremendous pass through the Real defenders only to put it beyond Casillas. 1-0 as Barca were through to the big final. As result of the three-goal deficit, Real replaced Higuain with Adebayor, but things didn’t change too much. Marcelo made it 1-1 in the 63rd minute after Di Maria developed a superb play on the left. The Argentine picked the Brazilian defender in close range to beat Valdez with a superb first touch. Thus, Real were condemned to score three more goals, an impossible mission for Mourinho’s side as well as for any other European top team.
Alonso, Marcelo, Pedro and Adebayor have all conceded a yellow, each, as result of further frustration. Finally, it went 1-1 as Barcelona are into the big final. Pep Guardiola’s side meet Manchester United in the last term, the final being scheduled to take place on May 21 on Wembley Stadium, London.
FC Barcelona – Victor Valdez; Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Dani Alves; Busquets, Iniesta, Xabi; Villa, Pedro, Messi. Reserves: Jeffren, Thiago, A. Fontas, E. Abidal, S. Keita, I. Afellay.
Real Madrid – Casillas; Arbeola, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo; Diarra, Alonso, Di Maria, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo; Higuain. Reserves: M. Ozil, J. Dudek, K. Benzema, E. Adebayor, E. Granero, N. Fernandez, E. Garay.
