For the third time in 12 days, rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona take to the pitch to add to their storied history. Only this time it's under the biggest set of circumstances yet.
The Spanish powers meet at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal tie (2:45, FX/FoxSoccer.tv/Fox Deportes) with the stakes rising high after their tense bout in the Copa del Rey final last week.
Both coaches are getting caught up in the heat of the moment as well, as Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho exchanged jabs at their pre-match press conferences during the week. Both will have to overcome some personnel losses, as Barcelona will be without Andres Iniesta and Maxwell, and Madrid will not have Ricardo Carvalho or Sami Khedira available.
If you will be watching the Champions League Clasico, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.
link anyone???
I want some beautiful football, that is all I ask for. Whether it is from Madrid or Barca. I just want to see the game played at the highest level.
After the progression though the prior 2 matches, I think that the odds of a broken leg are 50/50.
This is going to be violent.
Viva Espana!
As long as one of them beats United, I’m good. But for this game, vamos barca!
Agreed on both fronts.
livefootballstream dot net
might you know if this stream plays on the iphone?
Vale!
So close from Villa.
It’s on FX HD! Freaking awesome!
Embarrassing start from Mourinho and Madrid.
No pressure. No class. Cheap shots. Every man behind the ball. You simply do not play that way at Madrid and keep your job. I’m afraid he might lose his if he doesn’t win the UCL.
yea there whistling @ madrid, there own fans. not good.
Yeah, this is upsetting to watch from someone who has lived in Madrid. This kind of play is not acceptable. And Mourinho will learn the hard way that at Madrid, NO coach is big enough to avoid the axe.
If that is true, I want Madrid forfeiting these matches. Inexcusable for a coach to instruct the grounds crew to let the grass grow longer than usual to prevent a quick passing team from being able to pass like normal.
I think someone needs to tell Madrid that they are indeed the home team. So they should probably try and be on the offensive and dictate the pace.
agree. mourinho is a great tactician but winning and looking great while doing it, is the only way in madrid and barca. plus he’s got the players, which is the sad part.
Well Barcelona has Puyol starting at leftback this game because of all the injuries in their defense. With that in mind you should have a go at that backline.
this game has been boring so far
He does.
Madrid played their hearts out last week and got a result.
It is called the beautiful game for a reason. Play it the right way or don’t bother.
This is Spanish football culture.
This is clearly one of the best rivalries in soccer. It’s seems like it’s like the Yankees-Red Sox of soccer.
I wish I could find one that plays on the wii’s internet browser (sometimes you just have to let the wife have the computer, you know?)
yup! but madrid is playing exactly how he wants to. if it ends 0-0 it benefits madrid. all they’ll need is a tie of at least 1-1 and they’re thru. i just find it horrible to play like this with this kind of roster.
I totally forgot about how they put a little star next to your name of the Champions League Cup if you won it by playing pretty passing football, what is Jose thinking by going out there and playing it safe and looking for his chance against what many consider the best team in the world?
How high is your horse exactly?
in unrelated news.. Dempsey scores for Fulham
Are you talking the Copa Del Ray? The one played in a neutral stadium? Didn’t realize Jose had that kind of pull.
shameful di maria!
Or maybe they should try to prevent the all-important away goal, you know, either way.
Shameful from Madrid to mess with the grass so Barcelona couldn’t pass as quickly as normal.
They should be forced to forfeit for something that slimy.
I am just saying that with Barcelona starting a makeshift defense, Real Madrid being the home team and players like Ronaldo on your side your best option might not be playing it safe.
MT is actually correct. this has always been the way in spain. not just winning , but winning while playing beautiful. if not i guess you’re just left watching the epl. lol
He’s talking about this game. Right now.
side note: are all these Spanish national teammates fighting with each other just one big acting job/facade? They look like they hate each other sometimes, yet they all play together for the nat’l team and have the best chemistry in the world. No comprendo.
Arbeloa throws an elbow into Pedro’s chest off ball and gets carded. Didn’t hit the face though Pedro, nice try LOL
Very suprised barcelona get away with surrounding the ref so many times. If that was
Rooney everybody would be bitching.
How many idiots can comment on one blog here…who cares the way Madrid and or Barca play. The point is to win regardless, if it were to play beautiful soccer than maybe they should have a bunch of models running around the pitch as well. The game is about results, nobody cares how you won a trophy 5 years from now.
agree. but to spend the kind of money on players to play like this?!
They are in two different regions of the country. Speak two different languages. And they DO NOT get along.
i agree
Yeah but if there is just a draw in the second leg at camp nou Barcelona moght have 95% of the possesion. Remember Barcelona won the second leg last year against Inter they didn’t get through because Inter won the first leg 3-1. Madrid needs the lead after this match to have serious chance of advancing.
How many times is Di Maria gonna have to dive to get a card?!
+1 to having (female) models running around the pitch
Beacuse if you’re not a fan of either team, then you’re watching for sheer pleasure of watching. And that probably covers most people watching
I think that is the wrong play for Madrid in this leg. They need to score in this match because O doubt they can beat Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Entertaining first half. Skill and drama. Should be even better if someone actually scores.
Hopefully until he breaks his dirty face. La puta.
currently these teams are embodying why most of america hates soccer. they are diving like there is no tomorrow, they are clutching their faces when their chest is it, they are begging the ref for yellows for other players, etc. really i hope FIFA deals with this during the summer, this game is simply awful to watch. after watching the couple el classicos i now hate both of these teams and will never cheer for them
That is the mentality of a small club. Have Madrid forgotten who they are?
You must love Manchester United… or Arsenal… or or or or
Every major European team. They all dive.
Jesus Nani is a world class 10M.
So the players on the best national team in the world have regional hatred toward each other? Aren’t almost all of them Catalan? The ones I just saw fighting were Pique and Sergio Ramos, who are from different parts of the country, so I guess that makes sense. Still, mind blowing considering how much they kissed each other on the cheek and patted each other’s asses during and after winning the WC. Go figure
I completely agree as well, Spanish Football is about whining and diving all over the pitch. If the Barca players would just keep moving the ball around they will eventually get the vital away goal. However Mourinho may have gotten into their heads already.
it was the La Liga game. He also didn’t allow the sprinklers on before the game two weeks ago.
But you never call out barcelona for it.
I don’t like Barca but I used to respect them. Not anymore. Pedro and Busquets should be suspended for faking injuries. Play-acting absolutely ruins the game.
If faking injury is Pep’s master plan then he is a worse coach than I thought.
Ives, any rumors of Eddie Johnson heading to Barca? He is a world-class back-passer and would fit into their current system.
In other news, Clint Dempsey has scored for Fulham!
these teams are taking diving and embelishment to a new level, if you dont see that i dont know what to say. im sorry i insulted your beloved team, waaaaaaa. im an arsenal fan but i never condone the kind of behavior that i have seen today. it is a disgrace
Barca is doing all of that but not Madrid. Not sure which game you are watching.
Everyone seems to forget last year Inter put in 3 goals in the first leg. Last season Inter attacked in the first leg and Madrid do the same here. If Madrid can’t score aganinst Barcelona at home how are they going to do it at Camp Nou?
Not Madrid? LOL Di Maria has fell over at the slightest touch. He is clearly trying to get Alves sent off.
Who is condoning it?
Yeah, not me.
haha.arsenal.you funny.
+1, was going to say exactly what you said.
Tis will be known as the game of dives
Sorry to break it to you, but Alves is a garbage defender. He is out there because of his offensive skills. Every one of his challenges has been clumsy.
Of course you think Di Maria is diving — that’s what Alves said was happening, so it must be true.
Come on now, all you have to is watch the game to see Di Maria is diving and whining after every foul trying to get Dani Alves booked. Couple of the fouls that were called were simply not fouls. Its a joke, take of the RM shades
FALSE, Di maria = diving.
Let’s concede that Di Maria is going down easily — it is nothing in comparison with running into somebody and then going to ground as if you have been scraped in the eye. No comparison.
Drawing contact is a commonplace. Being touched in the chest and then acting like you have been hit in the face is absolutely inexcusable.
Basque v Catalan
Many said that the World Cup victory did a lot to bridge between the two country-regions… but there is a TON of animosity.
I really hope I can see some extraordinary US players (and national teams) develop because there will be considerably less flopping and carrying on like an idiot. As for people complaing about Madrid, just stop it. Mourinho is playing to win, not to please you. I’m a fan of the way Barca plays but there is no better or worse style, just more or less effective and personal preferences. Teams are allowed to play defensive styles, and I think soccer would be impoverished if everyone were to copy just a few teams. At least once, after a Wegner or Guardiola complains about the other team, I want to hear the opposing coach respond with a “well, I’d be happy to play with the ball, if only Barca or Arsenal would keep 10 or 11 men behind the ball; unfortunately, they refuse to play this way.” What are people really complaing about? That team won’t send people out of position to fulfill the desire of the other team? It’s like an NBA team complaining that the other team doesn’t play zone the entire game and allow them loads of open shots.
when mourinho plays bunker ball he is the greatest coach on earth, when bob bradley does it he is the worst coach ever and should be fired over and over again.
Haha, dead on. Well done.
+10000000000
You can’t expect Americans to understand the Spanish football culture, when we produce coaches like Bob Bradley. They will never understand what it is to be a Madrista.
Barca going for the jugular now.
It is clear already that Mourinho told his players at halftime to continue hitting Barca players after a play is done. Already seeing pushes and shoves and heel kicks from Madrid players.
Ref HAS to put a stop to that.
sh*t game so far every time its a dive i only hope MLS can be the best league in the world so i dont have to watch this p**sy b*llsh*t.
your tv/computer has an off switch.
So they are hoping to finish nil nil and go to bernabue and get a goal? How often does that strategy work out? To win you need to take advantage of your home game and build a lead.
Can’t compare, this is on another level.
You would rather see pissed off journey man intentionally injuring star players with tackles that make Nigel de Jong blush.
greatest post. goodnight. madrid SHOULD be embarrassed by playing the way they are with the players they have. it’s not quite hull city playing against barca.
bye bye Ramos….
Ramos is gone from the second leg.
Huge huge blow for Madrid.
ANOTHER CHEAP SHOT
His goal was pretty sweet–side volley and he drilled it.
dont worry already changed the channel but a really cool remark
@MT so if i dont like diving i must like dirty play? I dont like either but if your making me pick from the extremities then i would rather see a fight.
Why do I feel like the Madrid half time speech went something liks this….
“Don’t worry about cards, just hit Xavi and Messi with or without the ball”
I laughed at your first sentence, while thinking of Dempsey and Jozy.
wow, it’s so hard to not look at some of these reactions to challenged and tackles and not chuckle… such needless drama, but such an integral part of the game…
I heard someone making the same complaint about the Copa Del Ray final’s grass length.
I’m sure you’re allowed to let your field grow, but I thought there was a rule about spraying the field down.
Maybe Real have realized that trying to play the Old Madrid way is why they haven’t won this cup in so long while Jose won it last season.
does surrounding the ref really work? wow, just answered my own question! bye bye Pepe…
Dani Alves is a great A wuss. But I have to say usually you get him 1 on 1 with di maria so wuss on wuss action
that’s a very soft red….
Leading with your spikes up doesn’t work.
What a freaking ridiculous challenge. Why would you even make that challenge?!?!
this just in dani alves loses leg…..oh wait he’s just fine he just got kicked in his shin gaurd
The barca blinders in play here are kinda funny to see.
Yes madrid are playing with men behind the ball. But barca aren’t off the hook for the lack of entertainment.
I could only watch the first half, but barca pretty much refused to play the ball forward from the back unless madrid sent somebody to pressure them. Which madrid refused to do.
So we got a 45 minute stalemate. One team wasn’t playing “more” negative than the other.
That was a weak red ref gave in to the pressure on that one. These freaking la liga clubs make watching soccer exciting and infuriating all at the same time.
god this game is only going to get more unwatchable now
Nobody made a meal out of that challenge. He was running full speed and went studs up, leg raised into the side of Alves leg.
really??!! damn, that’s a red in my book. pretty clear. regardless if they’ve been diving or not.
because he won the ball and had himself behind the defense
I will never understand how a crap player like Pepe is on a team like Madrid.
haha Jose is in time out!
mourinho too? oh boy… Madrid will be ablaze tonite….
I’m sorry but that is not a red at all. I don’t have a horse in the race, but that was absolutely ridiculous.
I’m calling it now. Two more reds will be shown
No question.
That looked really painful. Poor challenge.
I’m embarrassed for every player on the pitch. This match has been a shame. As the announcer said, we’re seeing the worst of the best. The diving, faking of injuries, and attacking the ref after every call has to be addressed with fines and suspensions after games. It’s out of control.
He didn’t even touch the ball.
hahaha right when i tune back in a soft @ss red. I thought Alves died and now here comes the dives all over the place.
that is usually given as a yellow, that kind of tackle is seen frequently.
Real Madrid’s diving is an embarrassment to the game. Nothing worth watching.
They need to yellow card the captains after a warning or two for the surrounding of the ref
Meanwhile in England. Dempsey has 2.
All 3 commentators on the spanish broadcast (spanish as in spain) all say that the ref botched this one.
C’mon… a running jumping studs up challenge is and always will be a red card
Duece with a BRACE agaisnt Bolton. Game aint over yet. Hat-trick perhaps?
I’d much rather watch the diving than the little girls rolling around holding there knees after the dive or every contact
Thought Pedro was exaggerating until I saw that Marcelo jumped on his leg. Difficult to tell if that was intentional or not, hard to see.
you mean winning the bal once on the run and then challenging for the ball again and winning it. There was no jump kick in there sorry
LOL, WIN!
Come one be honest, both teams are equally embellishing every single touch
No question.
HE DIDN’T WIN THE BALL
Jesus, he didn’t even touch the ball. He got all leg.
He didn’t win the ball man, heck he didn’t even touch it.
Replay shows that Marcelo intentionally stomped on Pedro. Nice.
Pedro has spent the night grabbing his face when he was hit in the chest, he will get less than zero support from anyone.
Yeah, that looked intentional from that angle. He cut his stride short and went down directly on the leg.
+1 I agree. Too much diving. Ruining the game.
That is the fourth time in the last 2 games they have played together that a Madrid player clearly stepped on a Barca player and then seemed shocked that the player was in pain. They may not be intentional, although I’d doubt it, but you at least know you stepped on them and should pretend to feel bad.
What about LD’s flying half-roll?
How has Diarra escaped a card so far?
so the ball just magically rotated just as Pepe’s foot was there becuase alves didnt touch the ball.
Oh S**t! For Real?! I gotta see that!
Gol de Messi!
MESSIIIIII GOLLAZOOOOOOOOOO
Di Maria is starting to look like a huge bust for Madrid.
What a burst of pace from Affelay. Pure speed.
how is it we are watching a game where Cristiano Ronaldo is the least whiney player on the pitch?
that’s what you get for starting w/ 3! forwards on the bench.
Wah? I hate his diving, but he seems like a great player to me
FIFA needs to make clear instructions to it’s referees about Mass Confrontation. I think carding the captain when it happens should be the answer because it’s ridiculous, it brings the game into disrepute and generally makes in completely unenjoyable to the fans.
Get rid of this whining BS now!
That adebayor shove is more deserved of a red than the Pepe mistackle
Because Barcelona is on the field
+1 didn’t even think about that
I agree he did it twice too
Shameful from Adebayor.
Ronaldo definatly is no longer the player who use to dive all over the pitch. More often than not he is fouled and the refs dont call it bc of his past reputation. There was a great example in the Copa Del Ray last week.
As SBI would say nice tap-in by Messi.
hahhaha finally someone hits Sergio. Last years dive and peek really pissed me off last year.
Woot!
HOLY FREAKING GOLAZOOOOOO
GOLAZOOOO VIVA BARCELONA!
Earlier the announcer called his first goal amazing finishing which meant he put his foot on the ball and it went in.
That was amazing finishing ability
i cant wait for MAN U to destroy the winner!!!!
Messi is just amazing. There is no other way to say it. The pace at which he moves while keeping the ball glued to his feet is incredible. WHAT A GOAL!!
Bahaha
Good luck with that one. Barcelona and Madrid are far better than any team in the Premiership.
Messi needs to change his first name to “Holy-Sh*t-lookit”
this game is a freakin’ farce. what a waste!!!
And the fans paid for this BS??? as fans, putting up with so much bullsh!t, and revering sneaky tactics, has a price…see this game. that is has degenerated to this stupid spectacle, I blame the fans for revering fraudulent displays of ‘sportsmanship’ as clever
disgraceful semi-final.
Ok, Messi is worrh watching.
That might seal Mourinho losing his job. You don’t disrespect Spanish football culture like that, AND lose, and keep your job at Madrid. It just doesn’t happen.
and yet, three minutes before, Messi went elbow up into the back of a player in the air, followed a minute later by a deliberate handball in the offensive box, and doesn’t get a caution.
Barca plays like entitled, spoiled brats. when they are on, it is a thing of beauty, but anyone who dares to not just lie down they complain non stop. it’s really not attractive.
you wouldn’t know it from today’s pathetic performances
Agreed.
Mourhinho should know what he is about to learn. Disrespecting the football cultures is not the way to go.
nah i think we can all agree both teams played like lil bitches tonight, maybe madrid a little bit more so
And just got an extension.
yeah, it’s at Wembley. the ‘thou shall not touch the mighty Barca” rule will not be as effective.
frankly, there’s no point in even playing the second match of this tie, Real’s missing two starters, on the road (where Barca will really get all the calls) save everyone’s energy.
my eyes bleed when i watch barcelona play. there football style is boring. it is just touch touch and wait until messi or villa are ready.
Completely Agree! If I was a ref I would warn them all once about it and then start with the yellows. Something needs to be done about it. I’ve never seen grown men whine so much. It really takes away from the game. Plus, I thought that was what the Captian is for, discussing calls with the ref. Refs should only talk to captains and after one warning start carding all others!
Ur kidding right?
Playing the right way also used to be the central part of Brazilian football culture during the golden era of Brazilian football.
no im not. you must be a barca fan if you like that style
And it works.
The world likes that style. It’s how the game should be played.
It’s the reason Barcelona is the epitome of the beautiful game.
today’s display sucked, period. both teams deserve to be trashed, a bunch of pompous, spoiled cry babies.
yuck. I expect more from my sports stars and superstars…and am often left disappointed of course
yeah it does but its BORING!!!!
the world? speak for yourself. look, they play fine, but there’s way more to it than your simple spin.
I prefer the way Germany plays, for example.
whaa? entertain us, what is your prefer d style?
the world? you sure of that
how about taking the ball more up the front and stop keeping it in the middle and waiting for messi and villa to be ready.
+100
barca just disgraced soccer.
they are unbelievable.
ive never been so disgusted watching a soccer team before
i know right only barca fan boys actually think its beautiful football.
Barcelona disgraced soccer?
Not Madrid with the 30 cynical fouls? The cheap shots? The bunker ball? The rash tackles? The bull in a china shop mentality?
I think your priorities are wrong.
an barca with its dramatic act cough! cough! (pedro). reminds me of the argentines
Right.. hoofing long balls over the top is much more fun! Right?
It was an ugly game but calling out Barcelona when Real Madrid tactics were ridiculous? Please.
Lets blame the team trying to play instead of the one playing 10 men behind. The truth is most if not all teams, are scared of that boring style of football( as some call it) so they decide to just stay back and pray. Maybe if they tried to pressure more it would be more exciting, but no they wont because that would be suicide.
shameful display. spectacle tarnished with every dive and roll, but….
Messi brilliant
I said less, not all. And there is a big difference between going down with some slight contact and acting as if you got punched in the face when someone has only clipped your heel.
calm down what pms?
great goals messi, that second goal was amazing with a run past four or five defenders and dinking it past the keeper. Great work I was impressed as usual.
Spanish football culture did not include winning until this decade. At least not in the national team level.
Tell that to Pique who started this by saying we are going to win your king´s cup.
Blind man over here. Why do barcelona fans not accept the fact that their players love the antifutbol stuff.
Hey Pep lover, they fouled them they didnt sucker punch them. Stop crying like 90% of Barcelona fans and players.
Notre Dame has been doing the exact same thing against superior college football opponents for years! Maybe they should be forced to forfeit, too, but they usually still lose.
ABSOLUTELY!!! Barca’s possession % was not positive whatsoever. In fact, as far as the 1st 60 minutes (prior to the Red), RM actually was more dangerous with their chances.
Manchester United or United…please.
You mean a MADRILISTA!…fool!
Man, i was hyped to watch this match… turned out so so ugly…oh well, sometimes that’s the way it goes with rivals I suppose. I don’t root for either team; but one has to recognize the brilliance of Messi (even if RM was a man down). The final should be an outstanding one though if it is indeed; Barca v. Man U.
+1 lololol
Bye Bye Madrid…They have too much talent to be playing like an EPL team…