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Messi-finishes-off-10-man-Real-in-Champions-League-El-Classico

Messi finishes off 10 man Real in Champions League El Classico

Spain, Madrid : Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 27, 2011 (AFP Photo / Lluis Gene)

 

Two goals from Lionel Messi secured Barcelona’s victory against archrivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals.

­It was the teams’ third meeting this month and it turned out they had no surprises left for each other.

Just like in their previous encounters in the Spanish league and the King’s Cup, hosts Real gave the ball away to Barca.

But the Catalan side’s creative abilities were seriously hampered by the absence of key midfielder Andreas Iniesta, with the first half seeing no goals.

Real looked more active after the restart as second striker Emmanuel Adebayor appeared on the pitch.

But the course of game changed drastically when Real midfielder Pepe fouled Dani Alves and got a well-deserved straight red card with half an hour remaining.

The Los Blancos coach, Jose Mourinho, disagreed with decision and was himself sent to the stands.

It was a double blow Real just couldn’t withstand, conceding the opening goal in the 76th minute. Ibrahim Afellay fed Lionel Messi, with the world’s best footballer firing between the legs of keeper Iker Casillias from close range, 1-0.

Eleven minutes later, Messi collected his 11th goal in 11 Champions League appearances, setting the final score after an impressive solo run, 2-0.

The top Spanish sides meet again in the second leg, scheduled for May 3, with Real needing to score a nearly impossible three goals to progress.

In the other semifinal, which took place on Tuesday, Manchester United beat Schalke 2-0 on the road.

    Posted in : Sports

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