Messi puts frustrated Ronaldo in shade again
Reuters - Thursday 28 April 2011, 10:45
MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo has one last
chance to eclipse Lionel Messi this season after the frustrated
Real Madrid forward again found himself overshadowed in
Wednesday's petulant Champions League clash with Barcelona
The Portuguese criticised his team's tactics after their 2-0
semi-final first-leg defeat, his only consolation being that
Real will be forced to attack in next Tuesday's return if they
want to have any chance of making the final.
Ronaldo, whose 42nd goal in all competitions this year gave
Real a 1-0 victory over Barca in the King's Cup Final last week,
could only fume in frustration at his team's defensive approach.
"I don't like it, but I have to adapt because that's the way
it is," the world's most expensive player told reporters.
While Ronaldo struggled, World Player of the Year Messi rose
to the occasion, scoring twice after Real midfielder Pepe had
been sent off.
The 23-year-old Argentine took his season's tally to 52 in
all competitions, including an unrivalled 11 in the Champions
League, with a clever near-post flick and a mesmerising second
that left Real defenders trailing in his wake.
Messi and Ronaldo are the only players to have scored so far
in the four-match series of 'Clasicos' being played over 18
days.
A penalty apiece in the 1-1 La Liga draw 10 days ago was
followed by Ronaldo's towering header for the extra-time winner
in the cup final, but Messi proved the difference on Wednesday
as a more aggressive Barca took control of the game.
URGED FORWARD
They had 71 percent of possession while Real sat back rather
than press higher up the pitch as they had in the cup final and
Ronaldo could be seen angrily gesticulating at his team mates as
he urged them forward.
"It's much easier against 10. I wish I could get the chance
to play against 10 like he did," Ronaldo said referring to
Messi's performance.
"At 2-0 down and away from home... anything can happen in
football, but we know it will be very difficult," he said of the
side's chances of making the final in London on May 28.
Barca's players were cautious about the second leg and
brushed off Real's complaints over the refereeing.
"This time justice has been done and I think football has
won," Spain midfielder Xavi told reporters.
"Their play is speculative and they have no other recourse
except to play dirty, as their coach (Jose Mourinho) has
instilled in them. We have never sacrificed our style."
Barca defender Gerard Pique added: "The sending-off wasn't
the key, because for the first 60 minutes Real didn't try to
play football either.
"When you play to the limits of violence, sometimes you get
burned."