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Post match Review: Real Madrid 1-2 FC Barcelona[/h] Posted at: 02:00 on Thursday, January 19, 2012 Category:
Analysis,
Matches Written by:
Padraig
Copa champions Madrid welcomed Barcelona to the Bernabeu tonight for the first leg of an exciting Copa del Rey tie. The home side were eager to shrug off three seasons of playing second fiddle to their Catalan rivals, and cling on to the only piece of silverware they have been able to prize from Guardiola's gluttonous grasp.
Barcelona fielded their best eleven with the exception of cup regular Pinto between the posts, however Mourinho threw caution to the wind gambling on Altintop and Carvalho at the back and fielding an uncharacteristically attack minded formation with Ronaldo Higuain and Benzema. Ronaldo fought tooth and nail in the opening minutes and doggedly rescued the ball with two tenacious tackles.
Sanchez seemed to be playing the lone striker role and attempted to run at the Madrid defense. Madrid were always a threat on the counter and when a Benzema pass picked out a Ronaldo run on the half way line, the Balon d'Or runner up grew wings and ran at Pique before swinging a low left foot shot through Pinto's legs. Barcas second choice keeper was made to look second rate after only 12 minutes and the home fans roared their approval. Barcelona almost grabbed one back three minutes later as Fabregas lofted a high ball to Sanchez who hit the crossbar with his headed effort.
Pepe was carded on the quarter hour mark after a stamp on Busquets. Pique was carded minutes later for use of the arm on Pepe. Messi forced a save from Casillas on twenty five minutes and the visitors began to impose themselves on the game and wrestle the lion's share of possession. On the half hour Iniesta almost scored after good work from Cesc and Sanchez but he was unable to keep his left footed shot on target. The next 15 minutes were heavily contested by both sides with the two sets of defense managing to keep on top – and the game remained delicately poised at one-nil at half time.
The game had barely restarted when Iniesta won a corner. The high swinging cross missed Pique and Ramos and all the other six footers in the area, but the charging run and diving header of captain Carles Puyol found the back of the Madrid net to tie the game. Moments later a delightful one two saw Cesc chip a ball over the top to Iniesta whose volley was deflected onto the post by Ramos. Benzema replied by hitting the post on the fifty seventh minute. Coentrao and Busquets were both yellow carded and temper seemed destined to flare as usual, however Barca maintained more than 70% possession throughout most of the game. The next while was spent on amateur dramatics by both Pepe and Busquets. Ozil came on for Lass with Higuain going off for Callejon, who was instantly carded for a lunge on Messi. Pepe shamelessly stamped on his hand as he lay on the ground. A Xavi free kick gave a Busquets a free header on the six yard box but somehow he missed the golden opportunity.
With quarter an hour left on the clock, Messi who was having a relatively quiet night, dilly dallied on the ball before chipping over the top to Abidal who chested the ball down before sneaking it past Casillas to take the lead. Sanchez gave way for Adriano with ten minutes on the clock and Thiago came on for Xavi in the 85[SUP]th[/SUP] minute. Carvalho was yellow carded for a cynical tackle from behind on Messi. Cesc was called ashore for the young Isaac Cuenca with two minutes left. Carvalho somehow escaped a red after another lunge, this time on Adriano, however the score line remained unchanged. Guardiola enjoyed a good win on his forty first birthday tonight and will carry a 2- 1 advantage into the next leg in the Nou Camp. Happy birthday Pep!
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Post match Review: Real Madrid 1-2 FC Barcelona | totalBarça