Madrid’s unsung heroes have helped turn tide for Mourinho

Mourinho’s Nemesis: that was how tonight’s gunfight at the Old Trafford Corral was shaping up just five weeks ago.

Real Madrid’s young French centre-back Raphael Varane had played the match of his life to defy Barcelona in the first leg of their cup semi-final before crowning his performance with a headed equaliser nine minutes from the end.

Then, moments from the end, Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba burst through on the left and let fly from the edge of the box. It was one of those shots that good goalkeepers save. But Iker Casillas was injured and Diego Lopez was making his first appearance for Madrid since leaving the club in 2007.