Real and Barca all square after semi first leg
Reuters - Wednesday 30 January 2013, 21:57
Cesc
Fabregas struck what may prove a priceless away goal as holders
Barcelona drew 1-1 at depleted arch rivals Real Madrid in an
entertaining and closely fought King's Cup semi-final first leg on
Wednesday.
Lionel Messi sent
Fabregas clear five minutes after half-time at an electric Bernabeu
stadium enjoying the second "Clasico" of the season and the Spain
midfielder finished with ease past Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez.
Barca
missed several clear chances to extend their lead before Real centre-back Raphael Varane crowned a fine performance by leaping to head home
an equaliser from a Mesut Ozil centre seven minutes from time.
Despite
having a slight advantage for the second leg at the Nou Camp at the end
of next month, Barca may live to regret not scoring more against a Real
team missing regular keeper and captain Iker Casillas and Pepe through
injury and the suspended Sergio Ramos.
"These games are always very tough," Fabregas said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.
"Considering
how the march went the result could have been more favourable from our
point of view," added the former Arsenal captain.
"But we will be at home for the return leg in front of our own fans. We are in a good rhythm and having a spectacular season."
In
a game pitting a host of Spain team-mates against each other and billed
as the latest showdown between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both sides
created moments of danger in an ultimately goalless first half.
It was the 223rd meeting between Spain's dominant clubs and their 31st clash in the King's Cup.
Barca
knocked Real out in the quarter-finals last season on their way to
winning the trophy for a record-extending 26th time and Real beat Barca
1-0 in the 2011 final for their 18th Cup triumph.
Barca
went closest to scoring when Xavi curled a 21st-minute free-kick
against the crossbar and then had a shot brilliantly cleared off the
line by Varane three minutes later.
Ronaldo,
captaining the side in his 600th official game, had forced a good save
from Barca keeper Jose Manuel Pinto with a free-kick in the second
minute and Karim Benzema volleyed narrowly wide just before the half
hour.
PERFECT GAME
After
Fabregas put Barca ahead, Ronaldo nodded wide with the goal at his
mercy before the Portuguese was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle
from Gerard Pique.
Fabregas
fired just over the bar from a Daniel Alves cross shortly after and then
sent Pedro through on goal but his Spain team-mate clipped his shot
wide with only Lopez to beat.
Varane's
leveller was no more than Real deserved and Lopez, making his debut
after joining from Sevilla as cover for Casillas, thrilled the home fans
when he palmed away a Jordi Alba strike late on.
Casillas,
who broke a bone in his hand this month and is out for up to three
months, has not missed a Clasico in more than a decade.
Assistant
Real coach Aitor Karanka, standing in for Jose Mourinho, was full of
praise for the 19-year-old Varane and Lopez at his post-match news
conference.
"Varane played a perfect game, he has his head screwed on just right," Karanka said.
"Diego is a keeper who has played in the top flight for many years and he showed the qualities he has."
The
biggest surprise of the night was that neither Messi, who had scored at
least once in his last 16 starts for Barca, or Ronaldo were on the
scoresheet.
Messi is one goal
short of Alfredo di Stefano's record for "Clasico" matches of 18, while
Ronaldo's record run of scoring in six straight matches between Real
and Barca came to an end.
The
winners of the tie will play Atletico Madrid or Sevilla, who meet on
Thursday at Atletico's Vicente Calderon stadium, in May's final.