Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid proved to themselves as much as to the rest of the world that they can more than match Barcelona on the field of play, despite being knocked out of the King's Cup on Wednesday.
The holders gave a thrilling attacking performance at the Nou Camp and had their arch-rivals hanging on for the final whistle as they came back to draw 2-2 before falling 4-3 on aggregate, just one goal away from progress to the semi-finals.
The offensive lineup, the asphyxiating pressure on Barca's playmakers and their never-say-die spirit were a stark contrast to their poor showing in the first leg, which led to the first serious signs of protests against Mourinho's stewardship.
"Madrid shrugged off their recent complexes and were a centimetre away from a monumental achievement," the sports daily Marca said on Thursday.
The pro-Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo wrote "It was a two-legged tie and Barca knocked out Real at the Bernabeu."
Real fans had been unhappy with what they perceived as Mourinho's timid and defensive-minded tactics in the first leg.
Playmakers Mesut Ozil and Kaka, who started on Wednesday, were left on the bench last week, while newspaper reports of a divided dressing room added to the club's frustration at their inability to overcome the European champions.
Former Chelsea and Inter boss, Mourinho, has only managed one win over Barca in 10 attempts, but it was the manner of the defeats which particularly hurt Real followers.
"(Fans) won't whistle him for defeats like these," El Pais wrote on Thursday.
"Barca played badly and Real played well. Luck turned its back on Mourinho, but the game revealed the way to combat Barcelona."
Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters: "We have ridden ourselves of this block that we had when we played against them."
JOIN THE PARTY
Once again, Real finished a match against Barca with 10 men after Sergio Ramos was sent off near the end, and visiting players crowded the referee to complain at the final whistle.
Under Mourinho, Real have had seven players sent off in 10 matches against Barca and the Portuguese has regularly accused officials of favouring their rivals.
"I heard players saying in the dressing room it was impossible to win here," Mourinho said afterwards.
Real and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas told referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes to go and join the party with the Barcelona team as he left the pitch.
"Yes, I did say that, but it was in the heat of the moment," Casillas said. "We deserved much more. We are sad but pleased that we have put in a good performance. You can see it is much more even between us now."
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique dismissed the complaints: "The referees make decisions which can help or go against both sides."
The Madrid-based daily AS said it was wrong for the club to seek excuses in the refereeing, and had words of advice for Mourinho, who's side top La Liga by five points from Barca, and who still have to visit the Nou Camp in the league this season.
"The key is that Real has players to match or overcome Barcelona, but only if they believe it, attempt and persevere with them against the recent trend, like last night," Alfredo Relano said.
"With the good players, Madrid can succeed."
Comment 1 - 12 of 12
Ramos was sent out on 87th minute of 2nd half.. it is not that Madrid was short a player the whole game. If anything it should be payback for what Pepe did in the first game. I am sick and tired from Mourinho and Madrid blaming the referee... they lost 3 out 5 games this season to Barca and only managed a draw in the other two. The referee had nothing to do with Huguine wasting two big chances in front of the goal. The referee had nothing to do with Ramos pulling Elvis Arms down when he scored his goal. The referee had nothing to do the violent play against Messi that the whole world can see. The referee had nothing to do Ozil hitting the post. Enough already. Madrid and their fans are acting way too desperate way too arrogant. You got beaten because you were beaten. It is that simple., Grow up and deal with it.
Why wuldnt d critics say madrid played well but were they really d better side bcos iv watched d statistics severaly?the answer a capital KNOW or maybe they meant madrid came all out as their stake was almost over!i wont stop telling you all to b objective and that was sometimes d resultant when refs turn blind eye to hard tackles.i wish some other means of officiating were employed on d field of play! ANYWAYS TELL ME WHICH CLUBS DONT WANT TO PLAY LIKE BARCA,MADRID SHULD BETTER LEARN!
Real played really well in the second leg showing great strength
Barca Always get lucky when it is time for Real to beat them anyway lets go Real Madrid we are Winning the Laliga and Champions.Ramos goal dis allowed samething over and over when we play barca Remember wat happened last season in the Champions league pepe sent off, Higuin's goal disallowed how can madrid beat barca with refs behind these catalans. lets go Madrid alway behind you in Win and in defit
In the end same loser : Real big mouth with no skills.
Some Madrid fans are even in the process of comparing Messi's performance in the last two matches to that of C.Ronaldo. My advice to them is that Messi got kicked severally by Mourinho's boys but the little genius still went ahead to make the killer pass each time. Ronaldo hardly get kicked by Pep's boys and that gave him the opportunity to score in both matches. Anyway, goals that were so insignificant 'cos they still got knocked out. An advice to you Madrid fans--- A certain player knows how to do things right in the likes of C.Ronaldo but meets another player that knows how to do these same things best amongst his peers in the like of the Mesmerising Messi. Messi not only does it best but always does it when it matters most. Think about that.
Madrid fans should not be deceived into believing that they have the weapon to confront Barca because of what went down last night. Let me refresh your memory- After the 5 nil trashing,the next match ended in a draw and comments were flying from Madrid fans that they have gotten the code. What happened afterwards, they got beaten again. Just take your time to study the scenerio so far. Anytime Barca wins any one of two leg affair, they settle for draw in the second leg. That should tell you that Barca will get a victory anytime against Madrid if the condition at hand warrants that. You Madrid fans were just lucky that Iniesta could only play 27mins else you would have hated you dear Mourinho by now. Don't worry, we'll meet again then you'll know that Barca is superior. UP BARCA
I want to believe that there has always been too much of excuses fromboth Madrid coach and their players. I don't really know when they will start playing like real footballers and not rugby players. You go about kicking legs instead of the ball and you expect the refree to clap for you. The refree should have sent Lass off in the first half, Pepe should'nt have played this match, Ramos' goal was scored via a foul commited on Alves, Barca should have been awarded a penalty for the foul on Alexis by Pepe which resulted to his shoulder injury, so many unjustified offside call on Alexis etc. No Madrid fan is talking about all that but all they know how to do is suck and nag when they loose to a superior side. They should learn to be good losers. Best of luck to Barca.
Lets be honest here, yesterday's match we (Barca) won as a result of the help of the referee as much as am a Barca fan. Just why was Ramos goal disallowed? Why? In all honesty we lost the match last night. Real was on top of us all through. Leave Mourinho behaviour aside and analyse the game. Our players were falling down dramatically just to have a Real player sent off. I dont like winning with 10 men from the other side.
However congrats Barca!!!
When Real Madrid play Barcelona they play against 11 men because referee's are always on their side. Last nights game highlighted this more than any other so to win this way is nothing to be proud of. Real Madrid last night showed they are a better team than Barcelona but once again the ref did his job and Barca are through to the next round.
let him do his home work well.
talk senses to his animals heads.
they play badly and misbehave on the field.
they kick legs and not the ball, he wont tell them to stop that or is that part of the skills they are suppose to display on the pitch.
when they are sent off he would make noise like animal and acuse the refree for sending animals off the pitch.
i know he always want refrees like Olegario Benquerenca his friend
mourinho is a failure against barca.
as usual, ill luck.
please tell him to blame it on something else.
Barcelona is too hot to handle
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