A spectacular display of pure talent and superb skill from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid book their place in the Copa del Rey final as Barcelona's uncertain form continued.
Less than a week after going down 2-0 to Milan in the initial leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, stand-in coach Jordi Roura witnessed his team outshone again on a humiliating night for Lionel Messi. By contrast, his arch-rival for the mantle of world's greatest player scored either side of half-time as Jose Mourinho's team propped up for next week's trip to taken on Man U at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, who was at the Nou Camp, will have heeded the warning.
"Without taking anything away from the work of the rest of the coaching staff there is no doubt that we miss Tito Vilanova," the Barça president, Sandro Rosell, said. "He is our coach, our leader." Vilanova is still in New York recovering from throat surgery.
After the first leg closed in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, Victor Valdes was done out by Jose Pinto in the Barcelona goal as one of seven changes from the team who came from behind to beat Seville on Saturday.
Within the opening two minutes Messi screwed his shot just wide of the post on the turn. They would regret that miss as Real had the lead with their first chance after Ronaldo was brought down in the box by a reckless challenge from Gerard Pique. The Portuguese shredded himself down and stepped up to fire home for the sixth successive match at the Nou Camp and seventh successive Clasico.
That was a pure delight for the soccer crazy fans out there in stadium in large numbers who were already on a high with two stars competing against each other trying to put in their best for the team for a winning cause. However, it was Barca that lost its path midway with the robust Ronaldo at his best moving like an electric current amidst other players.
Meanwhile, a Messi free-kick that fizzed wide of the post appeared too ordinary as it was the closest Barça came to drawing level before the break. Yet any hopes that the second half might bring a change in fortune were instantly washed away as superb footwork from Angel di Maria bamboozled Carles Puyol and Ronaldo tucked away the rebound.
Raphaël Varane's header from a corner in the 68th minute then ended any hopes of a Barcelona comeback, even though Jordi Alba grabbed a late consolation. It was rather a forgettable day for all the team members of Barca who could not capitalize on the chances that came their way. Banking upon too much on Messi too has hurt their chances of making it work for them.
Clearly, it was not the day the Argentine must have been looking forward to. Ronaldo who was on a low of late rose like phoenix to offer their team one of the memorable wins in recent times that they have been expecting the most.
