Madrid, Jan 31: Barcelona and Real Madrid played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in their Copa del Rey semifinal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday. With Barcelona enjoying the majority of possession, the first-leg match grew in intensity with end-to-end play as both teams raced forward with fast-paced counterattacks.
As goalkeeper Iker Casillas was injured, Diego Lopez played in goal for Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo was captain. Lionel Messi intercepted a clearance, and passed to Cesc Fabregas, who opened the scoring in the 50th minute. "This is obviously a good result; we are in the Bernabeu, a very tough field, and we will have our own fans behind us for the return leg of the draw," Fabregas said.
The 19-year-old Raphael Varane sealed an excellent match, heading an equalizer in the 81st having saved three clear Barcelona chances earlier. "It's like a dream come true, incredible to score a goal like that against Barcelona at just 19," Varane said. "The second leg will be evenly matched and we're going to play a good match there to win."
The second leg will be at the Camp Nou on Feb. 27. The match ended Messi's prolific scoring streak in which he had found the back of the net in his previous 16 starts. Madrid began the match attacking, and Gerard Pique fouled a charging Ronaldo in the first minute to concede a free kick which the striker struck hard and head-high, but goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto saved. Barcelona had their first chance from a well-timed pass by Andres Iniesta that Jordi Alba ran onto, beating the offside trap, but he shot wide of the far post in the 13th.
Xavi Hernandez struck a free kick that hit the crossbar in the 21st. "These matches are always difficult and I had said that in all probability the semifinals would likely be decided in Barcelona and that's exactly what's going to happen," said Barcelona deputy coach Jordi Roura, who was in charge as Tito Vilanova was in the United States undergoing medical tests.
Defender Ricardo Carvalho nearly gifted Barcelona their first goal when he made a poor back-pass to Lopez which Fabregas intercepted and passed to Xavi Hernandez, who shot towards goal only to find that Varane had sprinted back to kick the ball out of the goalmouth in the 24th. The second half also began with Madrid attacking, but Karim Benzema shot high. Varane made his second vital interception to prevent Messi's pass reaching an advancing Fabregas in the 56th.
Madrid countered when Michael Essien crossed and Ronaldo reached forward to try and head the ball in, but he failed to make contact in the 61st. Madrid coach Jose Mourinho refreshed his midfield by bringing on Luka Modric for Jose Callejon and his attack with Gonzalo Higuain substituting Benzema three minutes later. "I'm new here but I saw a very united and strong dressing room. We're conscious this is a very tough rival, but we came out and showed our best side and displayed good ball control." said Lopez, who was signed on Jan. 26 to provide cover for Casillas.
Pique made an excellent tackle to divert a cross intended for Ronaldo from Essien three minutes later. With Barcelona dominating possession, Fabregas and Pedro Rodriguez came close to scoring midway through the second half. Madrid's sustained pressure towards the end was thwarted when Dani Alves stopped Mesut Ozil's ball reaching Ronaldo in the 84th.
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