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Honors even between Real Madrid and Barcelona
Source: Xinhua |
April 17, 2011, Sunday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
THE first of the four meetings between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona ended in a 1-1 draw in the Santiago Bernabeu last night.
Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored penalties to make it honors even in the BBVA Primera Liga game between the two sides.
The result means Barcelona are now almost certain to win their third consecutive league title and sets things up nicely for when the two sides dispute the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola sprang a major surprise by including defender Carles Puyol in his starting 11 after three months out with a knee injury.
Real Madrid meanwhile played a defensive line up with central defender Pepe in the middle of a three man midfield with Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel de Maria on the wings in a side that was clearly looking to close Barcelona down and play on the break.
Barcelona kicked off controlling the game, enjoying up to 75 percent of the ball against a Madrid side content to defend in two tightly organized lines in front of their own penalty area.
Messi should have scored following a patient move, but his attempted lob was plucked out of the sky by Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.
Madrid were looking to use their pace and force free kicks and corners and midway through the half, Ronaldo saw a free kick well claimed by Valdes.
The Barca keeper then spilled a tame shot from Karim Benzema for a corner which Ronaldo headed over, while just before the half hour Barcelona should have had a penalty after Casillas clearly brought down David Villa in the Madrid area. Referee Muniz Fernandez gave nothing and instead booked Gerard Pique for his protests.
Madrid came more into the game, but Casillas still had to be at his best to stop an angled drive from Messi in the closing moments of the half, before Dani Alves cleared a Sergio Ramos header off the line from another Madrid corner.
The second half began in frantic fashion with Ronaldo hitting a free kick against the base of the post from 25 yards, just before Barcelona took the lead from the penalty spot.
Villa was brought down by Raul Albiol as he burst into the Madrid area and this time Muniz pointed to the spot as well as sending Albiol off with a direct red card. Messi kept his calm to beat Casillas and put Barcelona ahead.
Barcelona then suffered a setback as Puyol suffered a muscle injury and had to be replaced by Seydou Keita, but with the game opening up Xavi Hernandez hit the Madrid crossbar with a clever chip.
The visitors looked comfortable but Madrid were given their own penalty after Marcelo went to ground under a Dani Alves challenge. Ronaldo set Valdes the wrong way from the spot.
In a frantic last 10 minutes both Sami Khedira and Villa could have won the game for their sides, but the final score has set the scene for what lies ahead in the next two and a half weeks.
Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored penalties to make it honors even in the BBVA Primera Liga game between the two sides.
The result means Barcelona are now almost certain to win their third consecutive league title and sets things up nicely for when the two sides dispute the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola sprang a major surprise by including defender Carles Puyol in his starting 11 after three months out with a knee injury.
Real Madrid meanwhile played a defensive line up with central defender Pepe in the middle of a three man midfield with Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel de Maria on the wings in a side that was clearly looking to close Barcelona down and play on the break.
Barcelona kicked off controlling the game, enjoying up to 75 percent of the ball against a Madrid side content to defend in two tightly organized lines in front of their own penalty area.
Messi should have scored following a patient move, but his attempted lob was plucked out of the sky by Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.
Madrid were looking to use their pace and force free kicks and corners and midway through the half, Ronaldo saw a free kick well claimed by Valdes.
The Barca keeper then spilled a tame shot from Karim Benzema for a corner which Ronaldo headed over, while just before the half hour Barcelona should have had a penalty after Casillas clearly brought down David Villa in the Madrid area. Referee Muniz Fernandez gave nothing and instead booked Gerard Pique for his protests.
Madrid came more into the game, but Casillas still had to be at his best to stop an angled drive from Messi in the closing moments of the half, before Dani Alves cleared a Sergio Ramos header off the line from another Madrid corner.
The second half began in frantic fashion with Ronaldo hitting a free kick against the base of the post from 25 yards, just before Barcelona took the lead from the penalty spot.
Villa was brought down by Raul Albiol as he burst into the Madrid area and this time Muniz pointed to the spot as well as sending Albiol off with a direct red card. Messi kept his calm to beat Casillas and put Barcelona ahead.
Barcelona then suffered a setback as Puyol suffered a muscle injury and had to be replaced by Seydou Keita, but with the game opening up Xavi Hernandez hit the Madrid crossbar with a clever chip.
The visitors looked comfortable but Madrid were given their own penalty after Marcelo went to ground under a Dani Alves challenge. Ronaldo set Valdes the wrong way from the spot.
In a frantic last 10 minutes both Sami Khedira and Villa could have won the game for their sides, but the final score has set the scene for what lies ahead in the next two and a half weeks.
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