Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid overcame its fierce rival Barcelona
3-1 at the Camp Nou and 4-2 on aggregate to secure their place in the Copa del
Rey final. Lionel Messi was inches away from opening the scoring with only 90
seconds on the clock as his instant control and shot on the turn from Pedro's
cross flashed across Diego Lopez's goal and narrowly wide.
But it was Real who took the lead in the 13th minute when Ronaldo was sent
down the wing by Gonzalo Higuain's, and with the Portugal ace drawing a foul
from Gerard Pique in the box. While both Pique and Barcelona were infuriated
with the call referee Undiano Mallenco's decision was absolutely correct. Ronaldo
drilled the ball into the bottom corner and sent goaltender Jose Pinto the
wrong way for his sixth successive Classico goal at Camp Nou.
Supports at the Camp Nou thought Barcelona had equalized approaching
half-time as Messi rippled the outside of the net with a low free-kick. Real made it 2-0 on another counter-attack as a long ball out of defense
was chased down by Angel Di Maria, who turned Carles Puyol inside and out and
took a shot that was saved by the feet of Pinto, but the ball rebounded to the
waiting Ronaldo to control and convert in the 57th minute for his 2nd of the
match.Any hopes Barcelona had of mounting an improbable comeback were outdone
when Raphael Varane, produced a towering header from a corner.
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