Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid (4-3 Agg): Ronaldo & Benzema spark Blancos comeback but Pep Guardiola's men cling on to eliminate Copa del Rey holders
The Catalan giants were able to hang on to a slender aggregate lead
to reach the final four of the cup, knocking out Jose Mourinho's brave
men in what was an end-to-end encounter.
Barcelona edged their way into the Copa del Rey semi-finals at the expense of Real Madrid courtesy of a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou, progressing 4-3 on aggregate in what was a pulsating affair.
Despite
Madrid being the better side for the majority of the first half, the
home side grabbed the lead in the 43rd minute when Pedro coolly slotted
home after an excellent Lionel Messi run. The Catalans were in
wonderland just before the half time whistle when Dani Alves unleashed a
stunning drive into the top corner of the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo
pulled a goal back in the 68th minute and four minutes later the
visitors were level when Karim Benzema slammed home. Yet it was not to
be for the away side, who had Sergio Ramos sent off late on for a second
yellow card as Barca held on for a place in the last four, where they
will face either Valencia or Levante.
Madrid nearly made a dream
start after only 12 seconds, with the Barcelona defence clearly not at
the races. Dani Alves attempted to play the ball back to Gerard Pique,
but the stopper did not have his eyes on the play and allowed it to
bypass him into the path of Gonzalo Higuain, who curled his hurried
effort wide of the post.
Jose Mourinho's men continued their
electric start and squandered another glorious opportunity in the third
minute. Xabi Alonso whipped an inviting free kick into the danger area
which bypassed the home side's defence, and only a smart reaction save
by Jose Pinto could deny Higuain's header from point-blank range.
The
visitors were impressive in the first quarter of the game and were
within inches away of opening the scoring in the 25th minute. Mesut Ozil
picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and unleashed a venomous drive
which had the beating of Pinto before rebounding off a combination of
crossbar and post to safety.
However, for all of their
endeavours, los Blancos found themselves a goal down in the 43th minute
after some Lionel Messi magic. The diminutive Argentine weaved his way
past several Madrid players before playing a clever pass to the unmarked
Pedro, an early substitute for the injured Andres Iniesta, who swept the ball home past a helpless Iker Casillas from 12 yards out.
Despite
coming under pressure for the majority of the half, Barcelona grabbed a
stunning second three minutes into injury time. Xavi's free kick
deflected off the chest of Lassana Diarra and into the path of Dani Alves
on the edge of the box. The Brazilian smashed an unstoppable shot into
the top corner of the net to give his team a 4-1 aggregate lead at the
break.
Mourinho's side, and their attacking approach, remained
undeterred into the second half. Sergio Ramos thought he had pulled a
goal back in the 53rd minute, slamming a header past Pinto from a Xabi
Alonso set-piece, yet the goal was disallowed by the referee as the
former Sevilla man was adjudged to have tugged at Alves' shirt in the
build-up.
There was to be a ray of light for the visitors as they
scored in the 68th minute. Ozil's precise through ball fell to the feet
of Ronaldo who rounded Pinto before calmly sliding into the empty net.
Four minutes later Madrid were level on the night when Gerard Pique's clearance was headed into the path of Benzema
by Xabi Alonso. The French striker, who came on as a substitute,
flicked the ball past Carles Puyol before slamming it home to set up a
thrilling end to a superb encounter.
Both sides refused to sit
back in the final stages as Madrid looked for the one goal they needed
while, predictably, Barcelona used attack as the best form of defence.
However,
the scoreline stayed the same and Madrid's frustration led to Ramos
being sent off in the 88th minute for a second yellow card after raising
an arm to Sergio Busquets, as the Blaugrana squeezed through to the
final four of the Copa del Rey. Madrid, however, can take pride in what
was a hugely impressive performance.
Both sides return to Liga
action at the weekend with Real Madrid entertaining Real Zaragoza on
Saturday while Guardiola's side travel to Villarreal.
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