Played
January 18, 2012 9:00 PM GMT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ César Muñiz‎
Attendance:‬ 80000‎
 
   
 
 

Player Ratings: Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

Goal.com rates the players from the Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, when the Catalans came from behind to claim victory

By Ben Hayward

  • Iker Casillas
    230
    82
    3.00

    Iker Casillas

    Sliced clearance early on, made one good low stop at his near post to deny Iniesta and an even better one later in the half from Messi. Also came racing off his line and out of his area to make one vital headed clearance later on. Could do nothing with the goals.

  • Sergio Ramos
    128
    142
    2.50

    Sergio Ramos

    Tried to hold a makeshift Madrid defence together and made some vital interventions, but was fighting a losing battle alongside the unfit Carvalho and the more attack-minded duo of Coentrao and Altintop.

  • Pepe
    265
    424
    3.00

    Pepe

    Booked for a very bad challenge on Busquets and could have been sent off as he lost it once more. Played on the edge and got away with stamping on Messi's hand in front of the referee. Made some good defensive interceptions, but his marking was arguably at fault in both Barca goals. He can't carry on like this.

  • Fabio Coentrao
    111
    176
    2.50

    Fabio Coentrao

    Not as good as Marcelo and it showed again here. If you had told a newcomer here he had cost €30 million, they would never have believed you. Not convincing defensively and wasn't able to provide much of a threat going forward. Also careless in possession.

  • Ricardo Carvalho
    93
    164
    2.50

    Ricardo Carvalho

    Returning from injury and it just looked too soon for the Portuguese. Made one absolutely vital block in the second half but was pulled out of position, struggled with the pace of the game and looks to be well short of his best. Also at fault for second goal.

  • Lassana Diarra
    141
    90
    3.00

    Lassana Diarra

    Didn't offer much going forward but some vital interceptions on the edge of his box in what was an ultra-defensive midfield line from Madrid. Replaced by Ozil in the second half as Mourinho sought added creativity.

  • Xabi Alonso
    146
    98
    3.00

    Xabi Alonso

    Not involved as much as he would like to have been or should have been as he misplaced passes and appeared just another defensive cog in Madrid's midfield for much of the game. Gave the ball away too much and wasn't the playmaker he has been so often for Madrid this season.

  • Hamit Altintop
    180
    101
    3.00

    Hamit Altintop

    Made one good run in the opening minutes but his pass went out of touch. Did the same late in the half with a neat turn but then gave then ball away. Great trickery and cross to set Benzema for a header which hit the post and looked decent defensively for the most part. Positive.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo
    322
    200
    3.50

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Endeared himself to the crowd with a brilliant sliding tackle on Alves early on. Looked up for it and got his fourth goal against Barca but was a little lucky as Pinto should have made the save. Failed to put through Benzema on the breakaway, Participative, but far from his best. Well marked and still psychologically affected.

  • Karim Benzema
    149
    92
    2.50

    Karim Benzema

    Set up Cristiano for the goal with a long ball down the left flank on the counter. Later was beaten to the ball by Pinto in their area but hit the post with a header at 1-1 when unmarked at the far post in the second period.

  • Gonzalo Higuaín
    88
    146
    2.00

    Gonzalo Higuaín

    Chased down Pique to force a throw-in late in first half, was caught offside early on and failed with one attempted turn in the first period also. A willing runner, but not really ever in the game and wasn't able to link up with Ronaldo as well as he should have. Replaced in second half.

Substitutions

  • Mesut Özil
    114
    87
    2.50

    Mesut Özil

    Brought on in the second half as Madrid needed a goal but should have been given longer to make an impression and didn't look comfortable in what had essentially been a defensive-minded system at the start. One or two good touches, but nothing more.

  • Callejón
    80
    92
    2.50

    Callejón

    Introduced as Mourinho made a double change but the former Espanyol man failed to liven up the Madrid attack, despite his impressive recent form.

  • Esteban Granero
    61
    92
    0.00

    Esteban Granero

    Came on for the last few minutes and was unable to make an impression.

  • José Pinto Colorado
    163
    117
    0.00

    José Pinto Colorado

    Really should have saved Ronaldo's opener which went through his legs. Came out later in the half to claim one high ball as Benzema waited to pounce. Didn't look entirely comfortable after that, but now has three wins on the trot at the Bernabeu. Not bad.

  • Daniel Alves
    171
    106
    0.00

    Daniel Alves

    Attacked aggressively down the right but was never really able to get to the byeline and was stopped in his tracks for the most part. Didn't really link up too much with Messi and endured one of his more frustrating nights.

  • Piqué
    171
    95
    0.00

    Piqué

    Looked comfortable bringing the ball out of defence. Questionable positioning on the Madrid goal, though, and he was also booked for clattering into Pepe in the first half. Defended well for the most part, however.

  • Carles Puyol
    371
    54
    0.00

    Carles Puyol

    Brilliant diving header to level the scores at 1-1, reminiscent of his goal for Spain in the World Cup semi-final against Germany. Defensively he was his usual self and led the line superbly, always looking assured and as ever, he gave 100 per cent as he threw himself into challenges. Likes playing here.

  • Éric Abidal
    336
    62
    0.00

    Éric Abidal

    Something of a subdued showing from Abidal who was neither good nor bad, just competent. But then he popped up in the area to slot home only his second Barca goal - a winner in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid. Another epic story for the Frenchman.

  • Andrés Iniesta Luján
    336
    98
    0.00

    Andrés Iniesta Luján

    Control let him down in the area and he was well off target when he should have done better after 33 minutes. One good run before half-time but Pepe got back to win the ball. Saw an angled drive pushed wide by Casillas just after Cristiano's opener, the made a great run to set up Messi in second half, but poor control from the Argentine in the area meant it came to nothing.

  • Busquets
    159
    140
    0.00

    Busquets

    Picked himself off the floor after some exaggerated play-acting to glance a header over the bar in the second half. But he really should have at least hit the target with that one. Passing was fine, but some of the negative things tarnished his display, as with Pepe but to a lesser extent.

  • Xavi
    314
    68
    0.00

    Xavi

    Outstanding again as he slowed the came down, controlling the flow of passing from deep and setting everything in motion. No goals or assists, but he doesn't need them as he does so much else and remains the pulse of this side. The rest starts from there.

  • Cesc Fàbregas
    208
    114
    0.00

    Cesc Fàbregas

    Largely anonymous in the first half. Sent one dangerous ball into the box after 35 minutes but flag was already up. Lovely chipped pass set up Iniesta in the second half, but the midfielder's effort hit the woodwork. Not at his best and didn't score this time either.

  • Lionel Messi
    445
    181
    0.00

    Lionel Messi

    It was a night of moments from Messi: One good jinking run in the first few minutes led to him almost setting up Iniesta in the area, before a brilliant angled drive was pushed around the post by Casillas. Saved the best until the end though as he set up Abidal with a stunning chipped pass for the winner. Even below his best, he remains decisive.

  • Alexis Sánchez
    293
    81
    0.00

    Alexis Sánchez

    Started quietly but almost equalised for Barca when he headed onto the bar. Full of running down the right as he hustled and harried Madrid's markers. Unlucky to be adjudged offside as he raced clear late in first half and made a stunning late clearance with an impressive dribble outside his box. Looking the part.

Substitutions

  • Adriano
    130
    60
    0.00

    Adriano

    Came on for the last eight minutes and looked competent enough as Barca defended their lead.

  • Thiago Alcántara
    120
    48
    0.00

    Thiago Alcántara

    Came on right at the end and had no time to make an impact.

  • Cuenca
    127
    56
    0.00

    Cuenca

    Was introduced in the dying seconds by Pep Guardiola.

Results
 
Match News
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Diego Costa Diego Costa
Striker
Atlético Madrid
8 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
7 1
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla
6 3
David Villa David Villa
Striker
Barcelona
5 0
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
4 0