FIRST-HALF GOALS from Pedro and Dani Alves booked Barcelona’s place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after a chaotic 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the Camp Nou.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored twice in the space of four minutes to draw Madrid level but Barca resisted their efforts to grab a winner and held on for a draw, aided by a dubious red card for Sergio Ramos in the dying minutes.
The result was enough to see Barcelona through 4-3 on aggregate and extend their unbeaten clasico streak to seven games, a new club record made even more sweet as they avenged defeat in last year’s final and dethroned the holders.
It was Madrid who had the best of the opening exchanges and on another night, could have been two goals up inside three minutes. Gerard Pique’s carelessness in dealing with a back-pass from Alves allowed Gonzalo Higuain to steal in, but the Argentinian striker shot right and wide when one-on-one with Pinto.
Higuain had a chance to redeem himself almost immediately and should have done better, but he volleyed straight at Pinto in the Barcelona goal.
That pattern of Madrid dominance was repeated for much of the evening, but if Jose Mourinho had an early inkling that this might not be his side’s night, his suspicions were confirmed in the space of three minutes shortly before half-time.
Lionel Messi was the creator of Barcelona’s opener, carving apart the Madrid rearguard as he slipped a pass through for Pedro to finish in the 43rd minute.
Two minutes later, Barcelona had doubled their advantage with a piece of Brazilian brilliance. Xavi’s free-kick came off Lassana Diarra in the Real Madrid wall and rebounded to Dani Alves, who smashed an unstoppable first-time shot past Iker Casillas from the edge of the box.
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With Barcelona three goals to the good on aggregate, Real emerged for the second half with little idea of where to begin.
But amid much play-acting, face-holding and rolling from both sides, they fought their way back into the tie and in the 68th minute, Ronaldo ran onto Ozil’s pass before rounding Pinto and finishing from a tight angle.
Four minutes later, Madrid were level on the night. Alonso’s header found Karim Benzema who outmanoeuvred Carles Puyol before steering the ball past Pinto.
It was not enough, and Barcelona stood firm in the face of Madrid’s attacks to set up a meeting with either Valencia or Levante in the semi-finals.
Two minutes from time, Ramos’ coming-together with Busquets was harshly deemed to be worthy of a second yellow, but at that stage, the holders’ disappointment was all but complete.
