Alves stunner lifts Barca but Real salvage pride
Having lost 2-1 in the first leg at the Bernabeu, Real needed a fast start at the Nou Camp — and almost got it when Gonzalo Higuain pounced on a mix up in the Barca back line but could only poke his effort wide.
Well on top Real couldn’t find the goal they needed and paid the penalty two minutes before the break when a mazy run from Lionel Messi ended with the magician slipping the ball to Pedro, who beat Iker Casillas at the near post.
Stunned, Madrid then conceded a second goal immediately after. From a free kick the ball is played to Dani Alves on the edge of penalty area and he unleashes an unstoppable drive that arrowed into the top corner.
Now trailing 4-1 on aggregate, Madrid continued to stream forward in the second half looking for a way back into the tie.
They thought they had found it when Sergio Ramos connected with a cross from close range but his effort was disallowed.
The goal they deserved finally arrived with 20 minutes left when Mesut Ozil’s fine pass released Cristiano Ronaldo and he rounded Jose Manuel Pinto before scoring.
Full of confidence, substitute Karim Benzema ensured the home crowd a nervous end to the night when he out-muscled Carles Puyol and then beat Pinto with a snap-shot.
Ozil then had a shot cannon off Puyol to safety before Pinto denied Benzema. Forced to leave gaps at the back, Madrid were almost caught when Messi escaped the attentions of Fabio Coentrao only to be hauled down.
With a minute left and Madrid running out of ideas, Ramos picked up a second yellow card after tangling with Sergio Busquets.
BARCELONA: Pinto; Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedro 29); Sanchez (Mascherano 80), Messi, Fabregas (Alcantara 70).
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrão; Diarra, Xabi Alonso; Ronaldo, Kaka (Benzema 59), Ozil; Higuain (Callejon 59).
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