Argentina’s two-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scored a superb late brace as Barcelona gained the upper hand in their Champions League semi final with a 2-0 first-leg win over arch rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Real were down to ten men after Pepe had been sent off on the hour mark and Barca made the extra man count with Messi converting an Ibrahim Afellay cross on 76 minutes and then scored a mesmerising goal on 86 minutes for his 11th Champions League goal of the season.
“We are one step away from the final but we are not at Wembley yet,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. “We respect Real Madrid a lot and we know they are capable of anything so we won’t underestimate them.”
Messi has now scored on each of his last four visits to the Bernabeu and the late goals are a huge setback for Real coach Jose Mourinho, who was sent to the stands for protesting the dismissal of Pepe.
Madrid must now pull off a miracle and win well at Camp Nou in the second leg on May 3 if they are to reach their first final since 2002.
Irate Mourinho rails against Barca ‘favouritism’
“Another miracle with ten men wasn’t possible,” said an angry Mourinho, whose side were overwhelmed 5-0 on their previous visit to the Camp Nou. “Yes, I think we’re eliminated. We will go to Camp Nou with everything and to get a result but I can’t see it.
“We will be without Pepe and Sergio Ramos who didn’t do anything and neither did I. I just want to know why. Why did Pepe get sent off? I just want someone to explain. Why did it happen?”
Madrid have not reached the final since 2002 and had fallen at the first knockout stage in six successive seasons prior to Mourinho’s arrival. A war of words before the game had seen Guardiola lash out at Mourinho for calling him ‘Pep’ and using the informal ‘tu’ form but the Portuguese coach said the mind games had not played a role in the result.
“No, I don’t think it was relevant what Guardiola said,” said Mourinho. “I responded to them. They were strange quotes. He is a fantastic person. I knew him for four years at Barcelona and I respect him as a coach. However, I would be embarrassed to win the Champions League like this.”
Barca mulls formal complaint
Barcelona may make a formal complaint to UEFA over accusations by Mourinho that referees always favour Barca.
“Mourinho severely criticised the referee Herr [Wolfgang] Stark and insinuated that UEFA treated Barca favourably,” the club said in a statement. “The club’s legal department is now studying whether to take his remarks to the UEFA disciplinary commission.”
UEFA said it is waiting for the report from the referee and its representatives at the match.
Pep Guardiola
“We’re one step away from the final but we’re not at Wembley yet. We respect Real Madrid a lot and we know they are capable of anything so we won’t underestimate them.”
Jose Mourinho
“Guardiola’s a fantastic person. I knew him for four years at Barcelona and I respect him as a coach. However, I would be embarrassed to win the Champions League like this.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2011.
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