• Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid (3-1 agg), Champions League semi-final 2nd leg

Barca see off Real to book Wembley trip

ESPN staff
May 3, 2011
Marcelo was on target for Real Madrid but it was nothing more than a consolation © Getty Images
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Barcelona booked their place in the Champions League final with a 3-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid.

The first leg was marred by a series of fouls, histrionics and post-match claim and counter claim from both clubs. The second leg was played in a more sporting fashion and Real briefly had hope when Marcelo cancelled out Pedro's goal, but it was only good enough for a 1-1 draw as Barcelona secured safe passage to Wembley.

Real made a bright start, with Cristiano Ronaldo - so frustrated in the first leg - producing a couple of dazzling runs. Barca weathered the early storm and Sergio Busquets should really have put his side ahead after finding space at a corner, but he sent his header straight at Iker Casillas.

Lionel Messi was closely watched by the Real defence - Ricardo Carvalho received an early booking for a foul - but the Argentine's dancing feet earned him some space and he forced a fine save out of Casillas.

The home side cranked up the pressure in the ten minutes before half time and it was only the quality of Casillas that kept Real in the game. The Spain keeper made world-class stops to deny David Villa and Pedro - while the latter also lashed a shot from 20 yards narrowly wide.

The match was in the balance at the break, but two moments tipped the balance in Barca's favour in the first nine minutes of the second half. Real thought they had grabbed a lifeline when Gonzalo Higuain beat Victor Valdes, but referee Frank De Bleeckere deemed that Ronaldo had fouled Javier Mascherano when if anything it was Ronaldo who had been fouled.

Barca survived the scare and went ahead on the night on 55 minutes. Andres Iniesta was absent from the first leg and his distribution was sorely missed. He proved that with an exquisite pass into the path of Pedro who cushioned the ball out of his feet before shooting beyond Casillas.

The goal rocked Real and the game threatened to boil over as the visitors committed a series of fouls. However, full back Marcelo put the game back in the balance with a goal on 64 minutes. He found himself on the six-yard line and on hand to slam home after he had been found by Angel Di Maria who showed great composure to keep his cool and find his team-mate after his initial shot had thudded against the post.

Real threw men forward in the final 20 minutes but Barcelona locked the door to secure their passage to London and the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Eric Abidal who has fought his way back to fitness after having surgery to remove a tumour in his liver.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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