The Spanish international midfielder has stated that the Catalans totally dominated the highly anticipated clash and Madrid were lucky to escape with a draw.
El-Clasico is regarded as one of the most intense football fixture in the whole of the world with the stakes so high that even the biggest players may crumble under pressure. When Real Madrid and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 come face to face with each other, probably one
of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in the world of football comes down to the wire.
Last night hosted the first El-Clasico clash of the New Year as the Catalan giants travelled to Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi finals. The match itself did not disappoint and lived up to the expectations with the attacking play
put on exhibition by both the sides.
The final score was 1-1 with Cesc Fabregas and 19 year old Raphael Varane coming onto the score sheets.
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 man broke the deadlock after the interval, fortunes falling kindly to him as Callejon played him onside. Fabregas made no mistake from the one on one situation and calmly slotted the ball home.
The home side had squandered several chances throughout the game and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 held the record of scoring in 6 successive El-Clasicos but failed to direct his header, with the target gapping.
However, it was the 19 year old Frenchman Raphael Varane who was having the match of his life, as he rose majestically to head in a delicious ball from Mesut Ozil in the 81st minute.
The score line stayed so and the tie is perfectly set-up for the return leg at Camp Nou in almost 3 weeks time.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi had his n views on the matter and stated that Barcelona should have seen the game out and emerged victorious from Santiago Bernabeu.
"We let them off. I think we were the better side, we dominated and we created more scoring chances. It’s a strange feeling," Xavi was quoted as saying on the official Barca website.
"We have been creating plenty of chances in recent Clasicos, but we aren’t accurate enough in front of goal. Scoring goals is key.”
"Everything is still wide open. It will be the same story in the return leg, but we’ll try to be more effective."
The second leg will take place on 27th February 2013, at Barcelona’s home soil, Camp Nou.
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