Champions League final video highlights 2011
By Greg Robertson Champions League VIDEO LIVE UPDATE and HIGHLIGHTS
Real Madrid 0 V Barcelona 2, LEG ONE, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINAL… El Clasico Part 3!
We’ll bring you the score and the highlights of the match as the game goes on so keep checking the video post to see if it's been updated. We’ll write VIDEO UP when fresh action has been added.
- Watch one of Spain's favourite sons - Fernando Torres - score his first English Premier League goal for Chelsea
- Click here for all the goals between Manchester United and Schalke
LIVE COMMENTARY…
Teams:
Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Busquets, Puyol, Xavi, Mascherano, Keita, Pedro, Messi, Villa. Subs: Pinto, Jeffren, Milito, Afellay, Fontas, Roberto, Thiago.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo, Alonso, Pepe, Diarra, Ozil, Ronaldo, Di Maria. Subs: Adan, Kaka, Benzema, Granero, Garay, Higuain, Adebayor.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
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Pregame
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola stoked tensions before the first leg of Barcelona and Real Madrid's Champions League semifinal as the two coaches exchanged barbed comments about each other.
The exchanges came ahead of today’s third meeting between the bitter Spanish rivals in 12 days. Madrid finally beat a Pep Guardiola-coached Barcelona side for the first time in seven tries last week in the Copa del Rey final to earn its first domestic cup in 18 years and first silverware in nearly three.
Riding the momentum of the victory, the nine-time European champions are now banking on Mourinho to repeat last year's achievement at this stage when his Inter Milan knocked the Catalans out to reach the final.
The Portuguese coach also came out victorious in two out of three two-legged matches with Barcelona while at Chelsea.
Mourinho's off-field tactics appeared to be working as the normally composed Guardiola let out an expletive-filled rant at his Portuguese counterpart for criticising remarks he made about a potential referee appointment for the game.
"He's the (expletive) boss, the (expletive) master and I can't compete with him at any instant," said Guardiola, who played for Barcelona while Mourinho was an assistant coach at the club in the late 1990s. "Off the field he's already beaten me. I gift him this off-field Champions League prize, I hope he takes it home and enjoys it."
Madrid's cup win has shifted the momentum in its favor, especially after it routed third-place Valencia 6-3 while Barcelona laboured to beat Osasuna 2-0. On top of that, a number of Barcelona players will be missing due to injury, including midfielder Andres Iniesta who was ruled out with a leg injury.
Mourinho, who continues to imply that referees favour Barcelona, was downplaying expectations ahead of the matchup between the competition favourites.
"I'm the same coach, the exact same, that lost 5-0 against Barcelona six months ago. I don't have a magic potion," Mourinho said. "We're not favourites. It's the Champions League semifinal between two teams that know each other, two teams with tradition, two teams with success who have won big games before - there exists no favourite."
While Barcelona is on course for a third straight league title, Madrid cruises into the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with more confidence and a more rested team, since Mourinho left most of his regulars on the bench against Valencia.
Madrid is without midfielder Sami Khedira, who has been key in stifling Barcelona's attack. But forwards Emmanuel Adebayor and Angel Di Maria are expected to be available with the latter leading the attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Oezil.
Defender Ricardo Carvalho is suspended while Ronaldo, Di Maria and defenders Sergio Ramos and Raul Albiol are a booking away from missing the return leg on May 3.
Spanish champion Barcelona's defense, meanwhile, is struggling without a natural left back with Adriano and Maxwell both injured. Eric Abidal's absence coupled with the doubt over Carles Puyol's availability means Javier Mascherano or Sergio Busquets is likely to partner Gerard Pique in central defence.
Iniesta's absence because of a right calf injury was another setback.
"If you come to this stadium looking to defend a result then they will roll over you," Guardiola said. "I can't do that, I can't change the way (we play) because of the injuries."
David Villa scored for the first time in 12 games on Saturday when Messi became the first Spanish league player to score 50 goals in a season. While the Argentina forward leads the competition with nine goals, he has yet to score at the semifinal stage in three previous tries.
Mourinho's last four games against Barcelona have been physical affairs with his team finishing each game with 10 men, including last year's semifinal with Inter when Mourinho said Barcelona was "obsessed" with the title with the final at the Bernabeu. Inter advanced 3-2 on aggregate over two legs.
Another bruising encounter may trouble a Barcelona team that many believe is showing the physical effects of the long season.
Guardiola expected a similar series to the one against Inter, as the Catalan coach qualified Mourinho's Madrid as the most aggressive he's ever played or coached against.
"Everyone plays as they like and that's Real Madrid's responsibility and it's up to the referee to decide on the fouls - sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't," Guardiola said. "We have to beat them by playing the best way. They play in a strong way, a very very tough game and you have to adapt."
While Barcelona is playing in its fourth straight semifinal, Madrid has beaten its rival twice before at this stage en route to victories in 1960 and its last win in 2002. Madrid, which has won three and lost once in six European matches against Barcelona, returns to the last four for the first time since 2003 with the winner going on to play either Manchester United or German club Shalke.
Today’s meeting is the third of four between the bitter rivals in 18 days. The pair drew 1-1 in the league before Madrid's 1-0 extra time cup final win.
"Every game has its own story," Mourinho said.
Meanwhile, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is concerned that the current run of Barcelona-Real Madrid matches could have a negative effect on the national team.
Tensions are high going into today’s first leg of the Champions League semifinals between the two clubs. It will be the third of four meetings in a short span between the rivals, with several Spain teammates having squared up to each other during Madrid's 1-0 Copa del Rey extra-time final victory last week.
"I'm worried about the quarrels between my players during these clasicos, which I hope don't find their way into my locker room," Del Bosque is quoted as saying in the Marca newspaper. "Good relations inside the locker room are the basis for our future success."
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola also engaged in a verbal sparring match when Barcelona coach Guardiola let fly an expletive-laden retort in response to his Portuguese counterparts taunts from earlier in the day.
Villarreal defender Carlos Marchena called on his Spain teammates to remember the big picture amid the marathon of clasicos, which started with a 1-1 league draw on April 16 and will close with the Champions League return leg.
"You have to be intelligent and remember that the national team lies above any club ties," Marchena said.
Meanwhile, midfielder Andres Iniesta was ruled out of Barcelona's Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid today, dealing the Spanish champions another injury blow ahead of the first-leg match.
Iniesta trained for about 10 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before exiting for the changing room. Iniesta had been bothered by an injury to his right calf since Saturday's 2-0 win over Osasuna.
"Iniesta is out," Coach Pep Guardiola said. "Tomorrow he can't play."
Guardiola had hopes Iniesta could return in time for the return leg on May 3.
Barcelona is already without defenders Eric Abidal, Adriano and Maxwell for the match between the Spanish giants, who are meeting for the third of four games in an 18-day span.
Guardiola said the absences will not affect the team's attacking style of play. Captain and centre back Carles Puyol is also a game-time decision. Puyol missed last week’s 1-0 loss to Madrid in the Copa del Rey final after injuring himself in a 1-1 league draw at the Bernabeu.
"If you come to this stadium looking to defend a result then they will roll over you," Guardiola said. "I can't do that, I can't change the way (we play) because of the injuries."
The bitter rivals play the third of four meetings inside 18 days with Madrid having won the Copa del Rey final after a 1-1 league draw before that.
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