What: UEFA Champions League Semi-final Second Leg
Who: Barcelona (2) vs Real Madrid (0) (First leg score in brackets)
When: Tuesday 3rd May, 2011, at 19:45 UK time
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Nothing Won Yet
After beating Real Madrid 2-0 at home in the third installment of this campaign’s special Clasico editions, the stage was set for Barcelona to clinch an important league win as their eternal rivals slumped to an unlikely home defeat. That however wasn’t the case as a weakened Blaugrana side proved to be ineffective against Real Sociedad, losing 2-1. Now, Josep Guardiola’s team will have to ensure qualification for the Wembley final as they prepare to face Madrid for the final time.
After experiencing their first loss away from the Camp Nou, the coach admitted that his team have more work to do before lifting their third consecutive La Liga trophy, all while pointing out that the job against Madrid isn’t done: “We need four points [to win the league] and we must find where we can get them. We have a good advantage in this semi-final but we need to ensure that our players recover. It will be a hard game in every way and should we overcome these difficulties, we will have more options when we reach the final."
Why?
The question has been the subject of debate around the Spanish capital ever since Wolfgang Stark blew the whistle on the first Champions League encounter between Real Madrid and Barcelona. After the match, Jose Mourinho wasted no time in taking a swipe at UEFA, for what he judged to be a favourable attitude towards Barcelona in previous years. And if that was not enough, the debate over the legitimacy of Pepe’s sending-off is showing no sign of ending.
Mourinho knew full well that a win against Real Zaragoza was the only remedy for his side before they prepare to face the mammoth task of reversing their Champions League fate. However, errors on the part of Iker Casillas and Ricardo Carvalho sentenced Madrid to their second league home defeat (3-2), a loss that Mourinho himself assumed the blame for: “The coach wasn’t able to motivate his players, who didn’t play well in the first half. We gave up three goals to our opponents before we improved in the second period."
Recent form
Barcelona:
Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna (23/04; La Liga)
Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona (27/04; Champions League)
Real Sociedad 2-1 Barcelona (30/04; La Liga)
Real Madrid:
Valencia 3-6 Real Madrid (23/04; La Liga)
Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona (27/04; Champions League)
Real Madrid 2-3 Real Zaragoza (30/04; La Liga)
Key absences
Barcelona: Bojan; Eric Abidal; Adriano; Andres Iniesta (doubt); Maxwell (doubt); Carles Puyol (doubt); Jose Manuel Pinto (suspended)
Real Madrid: Sami Khedira; Fernando Gago; Sergio Ramos (suspended); Pepe (suspended)
Key battles
Lionel Messi-Raul Albiol: The former Valencia defender has been made to look foolish by Barcelona in recent encounters, tripping David Villa recklessly in the first Clasico before being the weak link in the Madrid backline a week ago. With Pepe and Sergio Ramos serving suspensions, Lionel Messi will likely run riot again this time. Raul Albiol will have to be at his best for this one.
Daniel Alves-Angel di Maria: Di Maria was fouled time and time again by Alves at the Bernabeu, as his trickery and pace meant that the Brazilian was given less freedom than usual along the flanks. With defending not his strongest virtue, Di Maria will want to earn as many fouls as possible for his team by showboating against Alves, as Madrid will give everything in this tie.
Players to watch
Barcelona – Lionel Messi: When Pepe was present the Argentine was quiet for most of the time. As the Portuguese stopper was sent-off, Messi sparkled into life with a wonderful brace, the second being particularly sublime as he waltzed his way past four Real Madrid players. More of the same will definitely be needed and welcomed at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo: The former Manchester United superstar was kept out of the squad that faced Real Zaragoza at the weekend, as a punishment from Mourinho for criticising the team’s play. Ronaldo will undoubtedly be recalled against Barcelona, and will have to put in one of his finest performances ever should the team want to progress.
Match Prediction
Although Mourinho fielded a weakened side against Zaragoza at the weekend, a win was nonetheless vital in restoring some confidence and faith to this Madrid side. The team obviously has not shaken off the disappointment of their loss to Barcelona, and will need a comeback miracle to progress at this point. Expect another 2-0 scoreline in favour of the Blaugrana.
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