Real Madrid vs Barcelona, 1st Leg
Match pulse
RMAAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
| Team | 1H | 2H | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| RMA | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BAR | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Who won: Barcelona 2-0
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0 in 1st Leg on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Santiago Bernabéu. Goals for Barcelona: Lionel Messi (76', 87').
Play by play
It looks, though, as if Barca have set up a rematch of 2009 with Manchester United in the final. The second leg will be a real test of Mourinho's managerial skills as he will have to attack, but anything is possible.
Thankfully, the world's greatest player gave us something else to talk about. Mourinho, I'm sure, will want to talk about the sending off.
And Messi's second was sublime. Reminded me a little of Maradona against England in 1986, but really only because of Albiol's attempts to bring him down like Terry Fenwick.
In truth, Messi was the only good thing about this game. Playacting and constant chasing of the ref made it tough to watch at times, but Afellay's break opened things up.
Referee Stark also sent off Jose Mourinho and Barca sub goalkeeper Pinto (at half-time). And Alonso is now telling him exactly what he thinks of him.
- 93'
<B>FULL-TIME! REAL MADRID 0-2 BARCELONA</B>. It was a horrible first half, an ugly match. But then Lionel Messi turned things around after the introduction of Afellay and the sending off of Pepe.
- 92'
Barcelona just eating the minutes up with their passing game. Real look shot and it would take a miracle for them to overcome their rivals by three goals at the Nou Camp.
- 91'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0427/lionelmessicelebvreal1st20110427_275x155.jpg"><br>Messi celebrates his first goal.
- 91'
Sergi gets a touch, but is muscled out of it by Ramos.
- 90'
Three mins of added time remaining.
- 90'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Villa off, and a kid, Sergi Roberto comes on.
- 89'
Ronaldo has a chance to break, but knocks it out of play...
- 89'
The game petering out. There is a lack of fight in Real now and Jose can do nothing about it from where he is sat.
- 88'
Thankfully a moment of magic gives us something to talk about instead of the horror show of the tackles and the play acting.
- 87'
Madrid's fans are silent. 11 goals in 11 UCL games for Messi and he just cut the Real defence apart. Albiol tried to foul him, but like Maradona against England in 1986, he kept going and slotted it home.
- 86'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Messi again. What a wonderful goal. He bursts through the defence and slots it past Casillas.
- 86'
Real are dropping off in midfield. Diarra and Alonso too tired to chase down Xavi et al.
- 86'
Barca are relishing the space and freedom to play with the ball. Another goal would kill off the game for sure.
- 85'
Real are tired now, you can see it in the legs.
- 84'
Villa wastes a ball forward, but Barca should really be going down the other side. Afellay has been superb since he came on.
- 83'
Barcelona obviously invite challenges with the kind of possession game they play, but that was over the line by quite some way. Mourinho just smiles...
- 82'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0427/josepintohalf-timefight20110427_275x155.jpg"><br>Jose Pinto (purple) tries to pick a fight with the Real Madrid team at half-time, leading to his dismissal from the bench.
- 82'
Very, very lucky to stay on the pitch after that. You could see the blood boiling.
- 82'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Adebayor charging around like a man possessed. Busquets invites it, but Ade just smashes him in the face with his hands.
- 81'
Afellay makes room and charges down the right. He's made a real difference. Xavi and Messi try to combine, but can't make it work.
Leaders
RMABAR 
