Copa Del Rey: Madrid lose to Barcelona (again) as Pepe disgraces himself (again)

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Real Madrid 1 – Barcelona 2 (Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg, January 18, 2012) (Longer highlights.) Question marks were directed at Barca keeper Pinto after just 11 minute as Benzema freed Cristiano Ronaldo with a fine pass and the Portugeezer drilled a low shot through the Catalan goalie’s legs. Barca almost hit back instantly as Alexis Sanchez hit a sweet shot against Casillas’ post. The Bernabeu was all wolf-whistles after Pepe hit the deck following a coming together with Gerard Pique. (First half highlights) Barcelona were level inside three minutes of the second half as Carles Puyol scored a diving header from a Xavi corner as Pepe fell asleep at the back post. Barca came close to taking the lead when Andres Iniesta hit the bar in the 54th. All eyes where on Pepe just after the hour as the Brazilian committed a dirty dive in an attempt to get Cesc booked. Pepe again courted the ire of onlookers in the 67th when he inexcusably stamped on Lionel Messi’s hand. The Catalans turned the match in the 77th when Messi threaded a pass to Eric Adibal (offside?) on the left hand side and the Frenchman eased his shot past Casillas for 1-2. The bad blood continued all the way through to the final whistle as Fabio Coentrao grabbed Lionel Messi’s head in a tackle and the Argentine acted as if he’d been punched in the face.