With football an apparent sideshow in the Champions League semi-final clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Sam Parker previews Tuesday night’s second leg clash at the Nou Camp
It’s hardly been a dignified state of affairs so far, has it?
As the world and its dog waited with salivated lips for Real Madrid and Barcelona to clash in the semi-finals of the world’s greatest club competition, with a wonderful display of football to be witnessed by millions, we were all left somewhat disappointed.
The best players in the world, the best coaches in the world, the best teams in the world – how could anything go wrong?
After some possibly expected pre-match squabbling between the managers as Mourinho’s mind-games started to affect the usually calm Guardiola, things didn’t quite get off to a dignified start.
One would have thought things would change once the players got onto the pitch, but in the end we were all witness to one of the most shameful matches of football.
Real Madrid came not with the intention to out-play Barca, maybe not even beat them. Just to antagonise, provoke and injure their Catalan counterparts. It was like they’d given up hope of beating them already, only a week after triumphing in the cup.
Barca were also keen on seeing a few less of their rivals in the return leg, as they took every opportunity to hurl themselves to the floor in mock agony, rolling around as though someone had taken a blade to them, as opposed to a set of studs.
After the game it didn’t stop there, as the mud-slinging continued, with both sides asking for UEFA action against the other. Whilst there has always been a lot of bad blood between the two, a whole new level has been reached with these matches. Familiarity does indeed breed contempt it seems.
Mourinho claimed Barca were doing the dirty with UEFA to get favourable decisions. Barca countered by saying this was all just an attempt to fuel conspiracy theories, and Mourinho was attempting to gain favouritism via pity.
Assistant manager Aitor Karanka took time out to level racism claims at Sergio Busquets, who in between rolling around clutching his face, is alleged to have made gestures regarding Marcelo’s skin colour.
At least one player saw fit to play the game as it should. Naturally, Lionel Messi was the knight in shining armour, defying nonsensical ‘big-game’ critics, who pointed to a lack of goals at the semi-final stage (despite a goal in the final two years ago).
Messi scored both goals as Barca stole a 2-0 victory at the Bernabeu, with the second a strike of real class. It seems the biggest shame is that Messi’s second, which saw him go on a mazy run past three players, before calmly sliding the ball past Iker Casillas, was overshadowed by none footballing matters.
For the stage, the setting, the poise, the balance, the overall meaning, it was one of the greatest goals ever scored. But quotes steal more column inches than anything, and Mourinho was in fine fettle to stop the world’s media from eulogising about a work of genius.
So the score stands at 2-0 to Barca, heading back to the Nou Camp, where Real have failed to win in four years and suffered a 5-0 demolition last time they visited.
How do Real approach this? Mourinho has already claimed Barca cannot be beaten (although suggesting shady reasons for that), and has all but given up hope of winning the tie. Will he attack Barca and hope to do what no other team and coach has done before, by overturning a two goal deficit in a Champions League semi-final?
Or will he stick by the ridiculous defensive approach he took in the first leg, in the hope of ensuring Madrid are spared another humiliation?
He will have to make do without the services of Pepe, who was sent off for planting his studs in Dani Alves’ knee, and Sergio Ramos, who earned another booking to earn a suspension. Given the amount of bookings Ramos collects in general, that should not have been something Real ever argue about.
Mourinho will also have to watch this match from the stands after being sent from the bench after being uncharacteristically vocal over Pepe’s dismissal.
Barca on the other hand will be stronger than the first leg, as Andres Iniesta has been declared fit to bolster the midfield further. Not that Seydou Keita is a poor understudy, but Iniesta is in a class of his own.
The home side, however, will be missing some squad players, with Gabriel Milito breaking down once again over the weekend, Jose Pinto suspended after being dismissed from the subs bench during the half-time ruckus at the Bernabeu, and Montoya also suffering injury in Sociedad.
However, Eric Abidal is a welcome addition to the match-day squad, after being deemed fit enough for the bench after surgery on his liver. Abidal has been sidelined for two months after having a tumour removed.
Hopefully his addition can calm things among the squads, as they can remind themselves that football is not the be all and end all of everything.
It is unlikely Real will turn this deficit around and gain a path into the final at Wembley. It is more than likely Barca will progress. So the result seems almost unimportant in this final clash between two bitter rivals.
This is a chance to show a different display to the world. This is a chance to redeem their selves and show a bit more humility and dignity. Things can surely only get better. Unless you’re Lionel Messi of course.