Stuttering Barcelona humbled by Madrid
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E-mail Xinhua, February 27, 2013
Real Madrid booked their place in the final of the Copa del Rey after beating Barcelona 3-1 at Camp Nou to secure a 4-2 aggregate win. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two and Raphael Varane found the net before Jordi Alba hit a consolation.
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Cristiano Ronaldo rejoices afer scoring the opening goal for Madrid. |
To beat Barca on any given day is a great result for Madrid but to take such an authoritative win on their great rivals' home turf will also give them a massive morale boost ahead of next week's Champions League tie against Manchester United where they must overcome the same first leg result.
Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho included one surprise in his starting 11 with Alvaro Arbeloa coming into the side to replace Pepe, with Rafael Varene partnering Sergio Ramos moving back into central defense.
Meanwhile Xabi Alonso was in the side after suffering from a groin problem, while Gonzalo Higuain was given the nod in attack ahead of Karim Benzema.
Barcelona fielded the same side which had lost in Milan in the Champions League a week ago, with the exception of Jose Pinto, who is regular first choice in the Cup. That meant there was no place for David Villa in the starting 11.
It is a wise man who learns from his mistakes and in the first 45 minutes Barca gave few signs of wisdom as they committed the same errors that had cost them so dear in Italy a week earlier.
Although Andres Iniesta fired wide in the first minute and Pedro Rodriguez linked well to set up Leo Messi a minute later, Barca fell into the same vices as in Italy. Against a Real Madrid side organized with Mourinho's typical rigor, Barca failed to move the ball with pace and looked static in possession while worryingly open at the back.
Dani Alves had already been forced to react quickly once to stop Ronaldo before the Portuguese striker spearheaded another counter-attack with the Barca defense out of position. The exposed Gerard Pique committed the foul in the penalty area and Ronaldo sent Pinto the wrong way from the spot to put Madrid in front and cancel out Barca's advantage of the away goal scored three weeks earlier.
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Lionel Messi looked dejected as Madrid cruised past Barcelona. |
Barca had their chances, best of all a Messi free kick which grazed the post, but overall the first half saw them look nervy in possession against a Madrid side that looked comfortable in defense and with more precision themselves, could possibly have put the tie out of reach.
The fans in the Camp Nou could sense their side needed a change and 10 minutes after the break the chant sounded out from the stands for David Villa to enter the field, but when the striker did just that four minutes later Barca were 2-0 down.
A Barca attack was smothered out on the edge of the Madrid area and Angel D Maria picked up what was little more than a punted clearance, but the wingers pace took him past Puyol and into the Barca area. Pinto did well to save but the lose ball fell kindly to Ronaldo who had little trouble in firing into the back of the net.
That goal meant Barca needed three goals to reach the final with just over half an hour remaining and when Varene headed home Madrid's third of the night after 68 minutes some fans began making for the exits, meaning they missed Jordi Alba's late consolation for the home side.
The second finalist will be decided on Wednesday night when Atletico Madrid defend a 2-1 first leg lead away to Sevilla.
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