The last of the four Clasicos came to an end in a stalemate but Barca still advance to the Champions League finals through a superior quotient after beating archrival Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, 2-0. The match in Madrid on 27 April was full of controversies that leads both teams raising complaints to the UEFA. If you are watching last today's rain soaked game at the Nou Camp, it was relatively a different game with less infractions but I still could see some resemblance of what happened last week at the Bernabeu. It is sad to see Madrid's exit from the Champions League but they are playing without their tactician on the pitch and was reported no where to be found on the stands. The Los Blancos are also without defender Pepe and Ramos, the crucial element of the Merengues defensive wall.
It was after Pepe was sent off that Barca was able to score its first goal, penetrating the once sturdy wall of the Los Blancos. Subsequently, Mourinho got his own red card too right after the call when he argued the uncharacteristic sending off of his ever reliable defender. Many have said and believe that Barca is playing or is good at diving acting (not on playing the game of football) during the match and was highly favored by the referees. This leads to the complaints filed by both teams but was later turned down and denied by the governing body (UEFA).
Barcelona are not awaiting the winner between ManU and Schalke on their own second leg tomorrow at the Old Trafford. ManU is protecting a 2-0 lead after humiliating Schalke right at their own home pitch last week. A ManU win or even just a draw is enough for them to advance in the finals to face Barca and this could be a rematch of the 2009 Champions League finals at Stadio Olimpico, in which Barcelona won. Then Barca earned a historic treble in that season by winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey, to add to its Champions League silverware. But this time, even Barca will win in the finals there will never be a treble again for we all know who won the just concluded Copa del Rey at the Mestalla.
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