Barcelona’s Leo Messi scored two late goals to put his team in control of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid 0-2 FC Barcelona
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
2010/2011 Champions League
The 2 goals came after Real Madrid’s Pepe was sent off in the 61st minute and boss Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands soon after for his protestations.
Afellay, who came on for the injured Pedro (stepped on by Marcello minutes before), sped down the right and played the ball into the area which Messi tapped in to beat Casillas. (1-0)
Real Madrid considered themselves to be still in the tie, despite conceding an away goal. But Leo Messi struck again with pure brilliance: Barça’s 10 picked up the ball from Sergio Busquets midway inside Real Madrid’s half, skipped past Lass Diarra, Raul Albiol and Marcelo before scoring his 52nd goal of the season (his 11th in 11 Champions League matches), and almost sending his team to the final in Wembley.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Pepe, Lass; Ozil (Adebayor, m. 46), Di María, Ronaldo
FC Barcelona: Valdés; Dani Alves; Piqué, Mascherano, Puyol; Xavi, Busquets, Keita; Pedro (Afellay, m. 71), Messi, Villa (Sergi Roberto, m. 90)
Goals: 0-1. M. 76. Messi. 0-2. M. 87. Messi