Barcelona | VS | Real Madrid |
| Date/Time: | May 3, 2011, 18:45(GMT) |
| Competition: | UEFA Champions League |
| Live/Repeat: | Live |
| Venue: | Camp Nou, Barcelona (Barcelona) |
Barcelona vs Real Madrid is this season’s last Clasico and this Champions League 2011 semi-final match could end up being the most unforgettable fight of the 2010/2011 season.
A 2-0 defeat leaves Los Blancos with only obligations ahead of the Barcelona vs Real Madrid match in the 2011 Champions League semis.
The first leg of this encounter brought nothing but an imaginable amount of malice from Barca at the Santiago Bernabeu, as a harmless Real Madrid side were controversially beaten 2-0. Lionel Messi was the man who netted the Catalans’ two goals, but his feat only came after the incorrect sending-off of defender Pepe.
Coach Jose Mourinho was also a victim of the referee’s inexplicable favouritism in El Clasico III, being sent to the stands after showing discontentment upon the game’s unfair officiating in an ironic manner. The Special One revealed after the clash that a comeback in the return leg for Real was more than unlikely, citing Barcelona’s “power over referees” as inescapable and inevitable.
Nothing is however finalized as at now concerning El Clasico in the 2011 Champions League semi-finals, and this clearly means that anything could be done by the recent Copa del Rey winners. As it stands at present, Madrid need to overcome Barcelona at least 2-0 to extend their battle to extra time in search of glory. The obstacle that emerges at this point for Los Merengues is the absence of Mourinho, who will have to leave his men to face their immense danger all by themselves.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel di Maria and Mesut Oezil were all out of form at the Bernabeu, and there were concerns as it was visible that the Castellans were aiming for a goalless draw. Real Madrid’s negative techniques once again seemed to come out as a great defect for most spectators of the showdown; therefore, Los Blancos’ frontmen will need to fire their best shots at the Blaugrana come May 3.
For the visitors on Tuesday in La Liga leaders’ arena, it will be a matter of fighting at the highest level, with the strongest mentality. Obviously, doing so without a first-team manager on the touchline does not appear to be a stress-free undertaking; yet, in such situations, obligations always outnumber options.
Real Madrid have not won at the Camp Nou since December 2007, and it would be a dream come true for their devotees if they managed to break this curse in mid-week to reach their prime goal. Mourinho’s side got rid of their cupless torment on April 20 at the Mestalla Stadium, when they narrowly edged past Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final through an extra-time header from Cristiano Ronaldo.
This time, they have the chance to make history on another occasion, but perhaps, in a tougher position. The 2011 Champions League final is definitely the stage both Madrid and Barca would love to play in; yet, it is understandable that the 2009 champions are currently the ones with the bigger advantage.
The Azulgranas’ role on May 5 will evidently be to defend and maintain the bonus they so daringly earned back on April 27, and in other for them succeed, they will eventually have to check on all areas in their team. Their defence has proved to be solid overall in recent times, while their front has lacked of real power subsequent to David Villa’s poor form this season.
Although the club has been able to profit from the services of reigning Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi in their attacks, serious improvements from the No.7 Spaniard and Pedro are still very much required. Ibrahim Afellay has shown great signs since his entry in Barcelona, but seeing that he might not perform as a starter against Real Madrid next up, it will be up to his experienced teammates to live up to expectations and assume their responsibilities.
A fair refereeing in this Champions League Clasico could cool down tempers at the Nou Camp, but it will surely not take away the heat from the much-anticipated Barcelona vs Real Madrid match. If Real manage to make a historically stunning comeback in the semi-finals, then they will be lifting their name higher in the scale of greatness. A sufficient victory could even turn them into the most dangerous team in Europe—not to mention the fact that such a boost in their reputation would ultimately make them significantly privileged ahead of their futures challenges.
Conversely, a loss for Barcelona would detach them from their designation as the “great ones”. Depending on the match’s outcome, it could even take off a remarkable part of their energy and place them under the power of their arch-rivals for a certain period of time.
Either way, the winner of the 2010/2011 season’s last Clasico will be facing either Schalke or Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final. At this time, the question is whether Real Madrid will be able to make Barcelona pay back for their notorious acts in the first leg. In fact, in a Clasico where both teams have so much to wish for, anything at all could happen.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
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