Barcelona and Real Madrid battled to a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou, a score good enough to see Barcelona progress through to the Copa del Rey semi-final on aggregate. Real Madrid were on top for large portions of the game and should have been 3-0 up before the thirty minute mark.The game started with a woeful mistake from Piqué, allowing Higuaín a shot at goal in the first thirty seconds. The Argentine failed to take full advantage though and dragged his shot wide. Higuaín again came close three minutes later after a well hit free kick fell to him in the box. But the chance was wasted.
Madrid certainly started the brighter of the two. Good movement from the whites made marking a tough challenge for the Barcelona defence. Out-of-character Gerard Piqué looked particularly fragile in the Barça back four.
Barcelona did eventually get themselves back into the game but lacked their killer edge. Dani Alves wasted a well positioned free kick by blasting the ball straight into the wall and the team could not get a hold of the ball leaving the game with a possession percentage in the away team's favour. A very unusual sight at the Camp Nou.
Cristiano Ronaldo looked lively all night and was unlucky to see his 11th minute shot deflected then parried away by Pinto. Next it was Özil's turn for a bit of creativity. His jaw-dropping 30 yard attempt bounced cruelly away from the goal after hitting the underside of the bar. Barcelona were hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
The night went from bad to worse for Guardiola when midfielder Andrés Iniesta was forced to make way for Pedro because of injury. Reports later revealing a tear in the Spaniard's hamstring was the problem.
It was the substitute though who broke the deadlock, and against the run of play, put Barça ahead. Messi, attacking the penalty area, found an open Pedro who controlled the ball well before burying it low into the corner of Casillas' goal. The Catalans had their noses in front.
The teams looked likely to go into half time with the score at 1-0 but after a free kick late into added time, Barcelona doubled their lead. The free kick deflected out to Dani Alves, who was left unmarked on the right side of the penalty area. The Brazilian hammered the ball into the top corner, leaving Casillas for dead. A wonder-strike on the stroke of half time.
The second half begun and before too long Madrid had the ball in the net. Unfortunately for Los Blancos it was disallowed as replays showed Sergio Ramos tugging Dani Alves to the floor before heading past Pinto.
Under-fire Mourinho decided to alter his side and switched Higuaín and Kaká for Callejón and Benzema. The fresh legs paid dividence and Madrid pulled a goal back on the 68th minute. Ronaldo dribbled past Pinto and slotted the ball into the goal to give Madrid fans hope. But as no team had scored three goals at the Camp Nou since 2009, Barcelona fans were sill confident.
Their confidence was short lived though as substitute Benzema fought off the intentions of Carles Puyol and scored Madrid's second goal of the night. Making the score 2-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate in Barça's favour.
Madrid were bossing the game in the dying moments, desperate to get the goal that would see them progress instead of Barcelona. The away goal rule meant that one goal would be enough for Mourinho's men.
But the game swung in Barcelona's favour on the 88th minute as Sergio Ramos picked up his second yellow of the night. The defender seemed to challenge fairly for the ball but Busquets' play acting clouded referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes's judgement.
Barcelona held on and sealed progression to the semi-finals. Real Madrid will be disappointed but should not be disheartened as this Clásico was not like the recent encounters. Madrid were in control for most of the game and on a different night may have walked away with a win.
Full time result: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid (4-3 on aggregate)
Goal scorers: Barcelona: Pedro (43) Alves (48) Real Madrid: Ronaldo (70) Benzema (74)
Team lineup:
Barcelona: Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta (Pedro 30), Cesc (Thiago 70), Messi, Alexis (Mascherano 79) Subs: Víctor Valdés, Adriano, Jonathan dos Santos, Cuenca
Formation: 4-3-3
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fábio Coentrão, Lass Diarra (Granero 52), Xabi Alonso, Özil, Kaká (Callejón 61), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín (Benzema 61) Subs: Ricardo Carvalho, Marcelo, Adán, Albiol,
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Stadium: Camp Nou
Referee: Fernando Teixeira Vitienes
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