FC Barcelona visited the Bernabeu again for a bad tempered match in the Champions League semi-final tie. With 72% possession, the Catalans dominated the match and despite Jose Mourinho’s wildly inappropriate accusations that Barça was essentially using favouritism with UEFA to fix matches in their favour, the better team won.

Perhaps the turning point came when Pepe was sent off for an aggressive studs-up lunge on Dani Alves, instantly earning himself a red card. But it wasn’t until a good quarter of an hour later that Leo Messi scored that all important away goal, as well as the clincher just three minutes before the end.

While relations between the teams are always frosty, Mourinho’s attempts to use his pre-match press conference to attack Pep Guardiola seems to have massively backfired and rather than psych him out the team went on determined to win. And his deranged post match rant was an embarrassment, and perhaps earning him the wrath of UEFA.

He also essentially conceded defeat. Surely Real Madrid’s stature is not worthy of a manager with a completely defeatist attitude. Start looking for a new job Mourinho – football doesn’t need you.

0-1, Messi (min 76)
0-2, Messi (min 87)

Tags: Champions League. Messi, Mourinho, Real Madrid | Category Champions League