Real Madrid 1-2 FC Barcelona
Spanish Cup quarterfinals – first leg
Wednesday 18th of January 2012
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid
Goals:
1-0: Cristiano Ronaldo (m. 11)
1-1: Puyol (m.49)
1-2: Abidal (m.77)
Starting lineups surprises
Mourinho did not opt for Plan A or plan B. With Di Maria sidelined, the Portuguese Special One chose plan C, which included, in the starting lineup, Ricardo Carvalho, who has been out of competition since late September, and Hamit Altintop, a player with limited play time since his arrival last summer. Jose Mourinho selected Pepe for midfield, and the Portuguese showed his true colours in a pathetic display of aggression.
On the other side of the scale was a team speaking from the script we know only too well: possession and patience, with only the novelty of Pinto (starting goalkeeper for the Spanish Cup), in comparison to the team who won in Santiago Bernabeu (1-3) in the League last December.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Altintop, Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Ramos, Coentrão; Pepe, Xabi Alonso, Lass; Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain
FC Barcelona: Pinto; Dani Alvés, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal; Sergio Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi; Cesc Fabregas, Messi, Alexis Sanchez
Game Summary
Cristiano Ronaldo gave the defending champions the lead after 11 minutes, but second-half goals from Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal, with a brilliant play by Messi, mean Barça will feel confident of avenging their defeat to Real Madrid in last season’s final of the Spanish Cup (0-1) when they play the second leg at the Camp Nou next week. (Compare prices and get tickets for Barça vs Real Madrid)
It’s the third time Barca have beaten Real Madrid this season, following the victory in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup and then a 3-1 win at Santiago Bernabéu in their first Clásico of La Liga back in December 2011.
Visca barça !!!