http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38605 to a 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal
The Catalans stunned their archrival, Real Madrid, by 2-0 in the first of the two legged semifinal of the UEFA Champions League at Santiago Bernabeu, taking a perfect revenge for their last week’s 1-0, Copa del Rey, thrashing by Jose Mourinho’s men.
It was none other than the little Argentinean genius, Lionel Messi, who struck two unbelievable goals in the last 15 minutes of the match. Barcelona did not just steal the show at Madrid’s home, but put a strong foot forward to reach closer to the final
of the competition at Wembley Stadium, London.
As it was expected, the match turned out to be a heated affair. The first half didn’t bring too much drama for both sides expect for a red card to the substitute Barcelona goalkeeper, Jose http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pinto-c30032 Colorado in the dying minutes of the first half. Colorado was
caught on the sidelines having a verbal spat with Madrid’s players.
In the 40th minute Real Madrid’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Álvaro-Arbeloa-c5282 Coca and in the 44th minute Barcelona’s Daniel Alves were booked with yellow cards.
Barcelona enjoyed greater possession of the ball (a staggering 77% in the total 90 minutes) while Real Madrid’s men were trying to follow the Jose Mourinho’s much criticized strategy of sitting back and waiting for opportunities to counter attack.
Mourinho in an attempt to increase possession and have greater physical dominance brought on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emmanuel-Adebayor-c12526 for Mesut Ozil after the end of the first half.
In the latter half of the second half, Messi showed up his individual brilliance by finding two goals in a short span of 11 minutes, in the 76th and 87th minute of the match, with the help of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-Busquets-c33048 Burgos’
assists respectively. He just took the game away from the Los Blancos since it would now require a miracle for Real Madrid to turn down a two goals deficit at Nou Camp on 3rd May, in the second-leg.
It was a controversial decision by the referee in the 61st minute to give Real Madrid’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pepe-c29670 a red card, which besides weakening the Madrid squad, provided Messi to find more space and extend his goal scoring tally to 52 goals in all competitions
for the season.
Mourinho was also sent off from the sidelines following Pepe because of his protests with some Barcelona's players and the referee.
The other setback which dented Madrid badly was when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-Ramos-c33096 was given a yellow card in the 53rd minute, ruling him out for the second-leg of the crucial tie.
Barcelona didn’t allow Real Madrid to repeat history as the Catalans have been twice defeated by Real Madrid at this very stage of the competition, most recently in 2002.
Barcelona will now fancy their chances to play the competition’s final at Wembley Stadium on 28th May, 2011, while Madrid will hope for a miraculous comeback to claim a 10th European title since their last one in the 2001/2002 season.
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