Cristiano Ronaldo's extra-time header
saw Real Madrid edge out fierce rivals
Barcelona in the second 'Clasico' in
four days to win the Copa del Rey
and seal their first piece of silverware
under Jose Mourinho.
- Wednesday's gallery The first 90
minutes had ended goalless, with
Madrid on top in the opening period
and Barca better after the break.
But despite the Catalans' superior
possession in extra-time, Mourinho's
men looked dangerous on the break
and after Ronaldo had angled a low
shot just wide, the Portuguese beat
Jose Manuel Pinto with a brilliant
header following Angel di Maria's
pinpoint cross.
Pinto started in goal instead of Victor
Valdes, as he had done all the way
through the competition.
Meanwhile, Barca captain Carles
Puyol was deemed unfit to start
following his injury in Saturday
night's 1-1 draw at Madrid in the
Primera Division, so Javier
Mascherano slotted in alongside
Gerard Pique in the centre of defence.
Mourinho restored Mesut Ozil to his
side after the Germany playmaker
began Saturday's draw on the
bench.
In this, the second of four Clasico
meetings, with a two-legged semi-
final to come in the Champions
League starting next week, the
Portuguese kept faith with Pepe in a
three-man midfield shield alongside
Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso.
And it worked early on as Madrid
pushed back Barcelona, appearing to
surprise the Catalans with their
dynamic start to the game.
Ronaldo, playing up front as
Mourinho opted to leave three
strikers - Gonzalo Higuain, Karim
Benzema and Emmanuel Adebayor -
on the bench, came close to giving
his side the lead after 12 minutes
when he beat Pinto from close range
but saw Mascherano hack the ball off
the line.
Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa was
lucky to get away with a clear stamp
on David Villa later in the half as
things began to turn ugly.
The defender escaped without a
caution, but both Pepe and Pedro
found their way into the referee's
book before the interval as the two
teams continued to compete close to
the edge.
But in football terms, Madrid had the
edge.
Pinto saved well from Ronaldo 10
minutes before the interval, but the
stand-in keeper was badly-positioned
just before the break and was lucky
to see Pepe's header rebound off the
post.
But Barca began the second half on
the front foot, stepping up a gear
following a disappointing opening 45
minutes.
Pedro fired just wide, Lionel Messi
blasted over the bar and the
Argentina forward was almost set up
by Dani Alves as the Catalans found
their rhythm.
And they thought they had gone
ahead after 68 minutes when Villa,
who had not scored for 10 games,
latched onto a Messi through-ball
after the Argentinian had brilliantly
beaten three Madrid players, and
slotted a low shot past Iker Casillas,
but the assistant's flag was up and
the Spain striker's effort was
correctly ruled out.
Nevertheless, Barca were dominant
now and that looked ominous for
Madrid.
Casillas made two fine saves within a
minute to deny Messi and then
Pedro, while the Argentinian was
stopped in his tracks as he looked to
waltz through the Madrid defence.
But Madrid weathered the storm and
the score remained goalless after 90
minutes.
The first period of extra-time was
dominated by Barca, but the best
chance fell to Ronaldo, who raced
clear down the right flank and
charged into the area, only to drive a
low angled shot just wide of the
target.
But the Catalans failed to heed the
warning and five minutes later, they
were behind.
Marcelo played a one-two with Di
Maria, who then sent a deep, inviting
cross into the area searching for
Ronaldo, who rose majestically to
power home a header at the far post.
Ronaldo should have wrapped it up
two minutes before the end, but
selfishly kept the ball in the area and
his shot was eventually blocked.
But Madrid held on to seal a famous
win and end a spell of almost three
years without a trophy. The only
sour note for Mourinho's men was
Di Maria's late dismissal after picking
up a second yellow card for a foul on
Messi.
Topic: el clacico real 1-0 barca REPORT (Read 1479 times)
