Part 1 – Half time review: El Classico – Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
The Catalan giants were ready to face the unbeatable Los Blancos who were now under Jose Mourinho after his extraordinary streak with Inter Milan as he helped the Italian side win a treble after 45 years.
Both the sides were playing their strongest side but it was Mourinho who decided to change things round up front as he changed his outstanding goal scorer Gonzalo Higuain and he replaced him with the out of form Frenchman Karim Benzema.
The Blaugrana wearing side were playing their best number 1 goalkeeper Victor Valdes in between the two poles. Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique were helping him guard their goal as centre backs. Daniel Alves was the one who featured as a full back on the right
flank while the experienced French full back
It was Victor Valdes who took the first blow duriing the game as he found himself being down as Gerard Pique hit him on his head with the foot while he was diving to save the ball. Messi was in action for Barca in the 5th minute as the Argentinean
hit post with his amazing curled lobbed shot from just inside the penalty area. It was a wonderful attempt by the world player of the year who lit up the stage with his first shot on target for the Spanish champions.
The pressure proved too much for Real, who really didn’t settle well into the match. As in the 10th minute of the match, Iniesta and Xavi combined to fantastic effect. The former played the ball for the Spanish playmaker who made no mistake as
he looped the ball over the Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Casillas as Barcelona took the lead at the Nou Camp stadium.
Real were completed shocked by the start that their opponents had to the match as Jose and his men couldn’t cope with the fact that Barcelona started the match without any nerves as the movement of Xavi and Iniesta from midfield was really too much for the
likes of Iker Casillas and Ozil to compete with. However, in the 12th minute it was Angel Di Maria who was at hand for Real as he got his first shot on target which was superbly palmed away by Victor Valdes. The ensuing corner was dealt with by
Barcelona as Pique headed the ball away.
Barcelona had their fair share of the possession but Real were content to play on the counter attack as in the 15th minute of the encounter, Ronaldo played in Benzema as Abidal cleared the ball as he intercepted the finely timed ball. Barcelona
looks susceptible to the counter attack as Real tried to stretch the play, but the Catalonian giants were too good in the ball in all honesty for the men in white who failed to keep monopolize the ball possession.
Tags: