Messi's second goal was like when a superhero discovers they have superhuman powers, and they're looking around at everyone else moving in slow motion. That's what that was like.

And his first goal, Chris, you have to appreciate because it was in the tradition of some of your favorite goal-poachers of the past, like Ruud "why the long face" Van Nistelrooy, et al. They just position themselves perfectly to receive the ball and put it in the net. Simple as that.

These clasico games are so great because of the passion. In all the sports I've ever played, I play hardest against my brothers and friends. And I think that's what you see in these matches. You know Pique, Ramos, Puyol and Casillas are buds at the end of the day, but on the pitch - it's war.

This is my one major beef with Arsenal. They have all the talent and entertainment one could wish for, but they lack the drive and killer instinct of Barca. You see these guys on the pitch in El Clasico and you see one thing on their mind... destroy the other team. I love it, and wish the Gunners could find some of it.

All you Real guys got to admit, though, it's OVER. There's no way Los Semi-Galacticos are going to Nou and winning by the necessary margin. (also, Portuguese Ronaldo's a baby)

 

Just to calirfy things. I'm not a Real fan. I just hate Barcelona and the way they always get special treatment from the refs. What happened when Messi shot the ball at Reals fans long after the ref had blown the whistle? What happened when Van Persie shot the ball at the goal just the blink of an eye after the ref blew his whistle?

 

i thought i replied to this last night but i was on my ipad so who knows what i hit. sorry.

anyway, yes, it is part of the game
and unfortunately it has ruined a LOT of GREAT football in ALL top flight competitions

as for the copa del ray, not sure how anyone is saying that was insignificant when clearly Mourinho is the only one who could make it happen for Real for alll those years

as stated in my post above
a deserved win for Barcelona because of the possession and threat they created. but the result DID REFLECT the impact Pepe had on capping it all and keeping Messi at bay; that said, following the logic, IF you subscribe to the red card being unfair (most people here seem to do?), then that result (of 0-2, and not the win itself as in coming on top like if it was in boxing) is unfair

 

oh man i am so disappointed in Arsenal this year
if you remember from a few months back, i was rooting for you guys to do something in all competitions because some of my best friends are Arsenal fans and they DESERVE to have a TROPHY.. but i blame Wenger

Szczesny looks promising though, the holding MF and DF need to toughen up .. Wenger needs to either quit, or change his strategy of feeding and training those guys off the pitch

that said, you guys can make it up to me by beating Man Utd omg you guys better


+1
thank you for summing it up
i have never come across a (Kuwaiti) Barcelona fan who would admit to this kind of stuff

personally, i love it when decisions go our way (Chelsea + Newcastle) and love to rub it in people's faces i see no big deal in admitting that those 3pts or 1pt awarded due to whatever result yielded is that of a blatant mistake..
which is why it's beyond me why Barca fans IN SPECIFIC don't get that

personally, i think those 'fans' are just riding the wave..
sit with a Barca fan, and a ManUtd/Liverpool/Chelsea (since the Zola years)/Newcastle/RM/Juventus/Milan/Bayern (etc) fans, and you will note the difference in tone

 

Sorry, but I cannot agree with that. The fact is that Madrid comes out and plays like bullies, by basically believing that they can run over players and get away with it.

You guys ask why Madrid cant seem to play against Barca without getting a player sent off? This is your answer and the special one knows it. He knows that Madrid must play with rampant physicality in order to have a fighting chance and they must live with the calls the ref makes. This is why Murinho runs his mouth about the refs any chance he gets... he lives and dies by the sword.

Thats the bottom line. Don't get me wrong, Madrid is a great team and is very dangerous... but Barca, at this point, is superior. They are the better possessing team, they control the midfield with incredible authority, and they have Leo Messi, who not only is one of the greatest goal scorers in the world... but also one of the greatest passers as well.

Good luck at the Nou Camp.

 

It's all moot anyway...

GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!

 

Chris, I'm going to be on the plane during the game on Sunday, but I'll be laughing when I land and look at the scoreline. One last stab on our way down... at least we can be spoilers

 

Uefa throws book at Real Madrid and José Mourinho after Barcelona game | Football | The Guardian

Uefa will next week consider one of football's most volatile disciplinary cases ever, after handing Real Madrid five charges and Barcelona one over their ill-tempered Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

José Mourinho's belief in the existence of a conspiracy against his side is unlikely to be assuaged by the Uefa charges, which include the possible violation by the Real Madrid coach of "the basic rules of decent conduct" in his post-match remarks.

The European governing body opened cases against both teams as the controversy generated by Barcelona's 2-0 away victory against a 10-man Real side continued. Two charges relate directly to Mourinho, who was sent to the stands during the game. After it he claimed the existence of a plot to ensure that the Catalan club reached the final. Barcelona said they would formally report Mourinho to Uefa; Real's Emmanuel Adebayor accused Barça of behaving like "babies".

"We're playing a man's game but every time we play against Barcelona and every time we touch them they go to ground and cry like babies," the striker said on Thursday. "Everyone talks about their fair play but I think they are a long way away from fair play. Their coach, their players and their bench are always crying."

It is believed that the Uefa refereeing committee is likely to discuss issues arising from the match – including the hounding of the referee, Wolfgang Stark, by both sides – before deciding whether to issue a directive to all its officials via Uefa's refereeing unit.

The rancour surrounding the match was ill-timed for Uefa given the high profile of the fixture, the huge worldwide audience for a Champions League semi-final and the ongoing Respect campaign to improve players' behaviour. The Uefa disciplinary committee will meet on 6 May, three days after the second leg, to consider a wide range of charges.

"The case against Real Madrid is in relation to the throwing of missiles, a pitch invasion, the red card shown to [the defender] Pepe, the dismissal of the coach José Mourinho, as well as the inappropriate statement given by Mr Mourinho to the media after the match," Uefa said.

After a board meeting Barcelona said they would formally report Mourinho, despite the fact he had been charged by Uefa. "It is unacceptable for someone to question our titles and our relationship with Unicef," a spokesman said. "Our aim is not to pour petrol on the fire, it is to put the fire out. We believe that coaches should only talk about football and not outside things that only incite violence. We reject dialectic confrontation and Mourinho uses that too often."

The charge against Barcelona relates to the red card that was shown to their reserve goalkeeper, José Pinto, after a confrontation as the teams returned to the changing rooms at half-time. Possible sanctions against individuals range from a one- to a five-match ban and/or a fine; measures against clubs can result in anything from a warning to disqualification.

Mourinho was sent to the stands after protesting the sending-off of Pepe, for a foul on Daniel Alves, on the hour and with the score at 0-0. After the match the Portuguese manager accused Barcelona of wielding untouchable power in European football and said that their coach, Pep Guardiola, should feel "ashamed" if he wins a competition that "yet again" is engulfed in "scandal".

Mourinho said that his red card and that shown to Pepe had been unjustified and that it was not the first time Barcelona's opponents had been singled out for unfair punishment. He added that he would not say what he "really thinks" because he feared a life ban but said he felt "disgusted" to be working in football.

Mourinho tried to discredit Guardiola's 2009 Champions League victory and any success he might enjoy this year. He said: "I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge and if he wins it this year it will be with the scandal of the Bernabéu. I hope that one day he can win a proper Champions League."

Regarding Pepe's red card, Real posted footage on their website that, they said, "clearly shows the player only touched the ball". The club also accused Alves, who was carried off the pitch on a stretcher, of feigning injury.

The Real forward Ronaldo, who admitted he was unhappy with Mourinho's defensive tactics, said: "I feel bad for us and for Mourinho, because it always happens to him. Barcelona are a great team but these guys have a lot of power off the pitch, too. Chelsea, Inter, Arsenal. It's always the same. Is that a coincidence?"

 

Is this before or after Wenger cries on some little boy's shoulder?

 

I dont really agree with anything exept pepe's red card, which i still think was unfair. Anyways, didnt really enjoyed yesterday's game hope the 4th and last classico will have some proper football in it and lets see if Real can keep all 11 players for once