Do not know yet whether we will live, it is not surprising, the apotheosis of a European final between two giants of Spanish football. Our football has already experienced a duel at the top, but it was Valencia who faced Real Madrid in that final in Paris. However, tomorrow is the beginning of a semi-final, beyond rivalry, hatred or budgets should mean a party for Spanish football to fight two of our top four and secure a Wembley final. Not the first time, but Real Madrid and Barcelona have clashed twice in the penultimate assault to lift the maximum tournament.
The first occasion was in season 1959-60, when Real Madrid face of Di Stefano and Gento Barcelona Luis Suarez and Kubala. With Miguel Muñoz and Helenio Herrera on the bench, Real Madrid a 3-1 win both games to finally make the tournament after beating the final against Eintracht Frankfurt. The confrontation was repeated the following year but in the second round. At that time Barcelona who would defeat the white tie after two field Madrid and a 2-1 win in Barca feud. That year, the club lost the final against Eusebio's Benfica. Note that in the old European Cup, this confrontation was considerably more complicated to play only the champions league trophy and the winner above.
The closest precedent, and in which we focus, took place nine years ago. The circumstances then were different from today: Barcelona lived a transition period where things Gaspart as president and Rexach in the dock did not work. For its part, the Madrid of the Galacticos lived its best to meet the cream of Del Bosque's team with the likes of Figo and Zidane. Madrid was the clear favorite, while Barca, and no options in a league quarter ending , played all his cards to the Champions League. It had been a forty-two years since that semi-final in 1960. The first leg would be played in Barcelona.
The party
FC Barcelona: Bonano, Reiziger (Geovanni 59 '), Frank de Boer, Abelardo (Christanval 73'), Motta (Gabri 82 '), Cocu, Luis Enrique, Rochemback, Overmars, Saviola, Kluivert
Real Madrid: Cesar, Michel, Hierro, Pavon, Roberto Carlos, Helguera, Makelele, Solari (Flavio 89 '), Zidane, Guti (McManaman 80), Raul
Both teams came low: Morientes and Figo were absent at Real Madrid Guti would headline due to its good form. Rivaldo was in Barcelona, Xavi and Puyol leading downs, but the Barca team was in frame and on the bench would have only five of the seven substitutes allowed. Puyol was important then in the right side, Xavi was no reference as it is now but starter in midfield and Rivaldo was not having his best year in his final season at Barça, but months later completed a major World Korea and Japan. Motta would be the left side to the discomfort of Italian Coco.
The game started with an enviable pace and Rexach's team take the lead, while Real Madrid was waiting for his chance to join the attack. Soon you would see that the players' positions vary throughout the game and the tactical duel became a constant. In the white team's presence was key Helguera, who rode between midfield and defense. Thus, Pavón was moving to the left and allowed Roberto Carlos, constantly guarded by Rochemback, playing almost midfielder. For its part, Solari moved between the band and the center left-handed, and the attack belonged to Zidane, Guti and Raul, so there was no clear reference that used to be the absent Morientes.
In Barcelona, the most outstanding player was Overmars, who had an exciting duel with Michel. A pity that the very good Dutch winger had so many problems with injuries throughout his career. Kluivert was the most advanced but it was not a reference, and Saviola, in his first year in Spain, moved to the right play. Behind them, between the lines, was Luis Enrique. Not having a player fixed Madridthe right side, the club did not suffer too much Motta solution as left-back.
Barcelona began having the best chance as a head to head that Caesar brought Kluivert and Lucho's header against the crossbar. Soon after, Raul would also have a good chance that cleared Bonano. The Barcelona accumulated effective in midfield, an area where the Madrid did not have many jugdores with defending itself very near the area. In this sense, the work of Makelele was spectacular. Much has been said of the French substitute after his departure, but the truth is that, like Zidane and Figo were unique in his own, so was Makelele.
The match went into halftime 0-0 and a drop in pace after a first twenty minutes to meet expectations, and with Barcelona, despite its hit game, was dominated and lost the opportunity to send the marker . Shortly after starting the second part of a move would be familiar: the throw from Roberto Carlos and Raul's shot that nearly completing a goal. A few weeks later another would take effect in the best possible scenario.
A few minutes later came the first goal. In a backlash in which Barcelona's defense was unable to react, Raul gave a great assistance to the Frenchman Zidane took the opportunity to make a jelly that passed over to Bonano. From this goal, the collapsed Barcelona and Madrid began to dominate the match. Barcelona had a chance as the Brazilian Geovanni, who sent the ball against the crossbar, or a Guti gave the ball practically into the hands of Bonano. Besiktas player today went unnoticed and was replaced by McManaman.
English was crucial as it marked the second in injury time following a pass from Flavio, who picked up the ball after a recovery from Raul. The Seven was instrumental in both goals. It was a goal that further pave the way to the final in Glasgow, the same scenario where that Madrid won the European Cup after beating Barcelona in the semis also. There was still the second leg which will be discussed next week, but with this victory, the Madrid break a run of twenty years without a win in the Nou Camp and pave the way to their ninth European Cup.
Match Summary | Part 1 | Part 2
Photo | ivalladt
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