DPA © Barcelona are well placed to reach their third Champions League final within five years after beating Spanish rivals Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday in an ugly, bad-tempered semi-final first leg.
FIFA World Player Lionel Messi scored two late goals for Barca after Real's defend-and-counter plan had gone up in smoke thanks to the harsh sending-off of Pepe.
Real coach Jose Mourinho was then sent off for protesting, and furiously lashed out afterwards at German referee Wolfgang Stark.
"Congratulations to Barcelona," said the Portuguese coach, "but I just do not understand why Barcelona always receive the help of the referee. All my life I will be asking myself this question, and one day I hope to receive an answer."
Mourinho then raised eyebrows by saying: "We were hoping to finish 0-0, but the sending-off (of Pepe) gave them an open road to beat us. Now it is Mission Impossible for us."
The Portuguese coach finished by saying: "I am not too sad, I have a great family. But I don't understand why Barcelona have this power. It happened two years ago to Chelsea (in the 2009 semi-finals), almost to my Inter last year, and also to Arsenal this year.
"Why do the opponents of Barcelona always have a man sent off? Where does this power come from? Maybe it is to give more publicity to UNICEF, maybe because of the power of (Spanish federation president Jose Angel) Villar in UEFA."
Real's general director Jorge Valdano, for his part, said: "The decision to send off Pepe was crucial, it was the only thing in the match more important than Messi.
Valdano added that turning the tie around in Barcelona "is not impossible, because of the personality and history of this club."
Real midfielder Xabi Alonso also said "the decision (sending-off Pepe) was decisive, it changed everything. I know I am not impartial, but it was not a direct red card...This is a real pity"
Barca coach Pep Guardiola refused to respond to Mourinho's outburst.
"We have played a very good game," said Guardiola, "with a lot of control and balance. We also had aggression. I am very pleased with my players."
At half-time Barca's reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto had been given a direct red card for scuffling in the tunnel with the Real players.
All in all, referee Stark waved five yellow cards and three reds, including the ones for Pinto and Mourinho.
Barca enjoyed 71 per cent possession, with Real content to defend in depth and play on the break. This strategy had served them well in the April 20 Spanish cup final - won 1-0 by the whites - but failed badly this time.
Barca went out onto the Santiago Bernabeu pitch complaining about the long grass and at Real refusing to have the pitch watered. This was part of Mourinho's strategy to slow up the Catalan's famous smooth rhythm.
David Villa almost gave Barca an early lead with a left-foot drive from the right. Then Messi set up Xavi for a low shot that was well saved by Real keeper Iker Casillas.
Real defender Sergio Ramos was booked for hacking down the determined Messi and will be suspended for the second leg along with Pepe, who was given a harsh direct red card in the 61st minute for an ugly foul on Dani Alves.
With the hosts down to 10, the one-way traffic became even more intense, and Casillas again had to be at his sharpest to keep out Villa.
There was little that the Spain keeper could do 13 minutes from time, however, when Messi broke the deadlock with a close-range volley after sub Ibrahim Affelay had centred perfectly from the right.
Three minutes from time, Messi broke away in trademark fashion, skipped past four Real defenders and made it 2-0 with a calm right- foot finish.
On Tuesday, Manchester United took a giant step towards the final, which will be played in London's Wembley stadium, when they won 2-0 at Schalke 04 through goals by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.
FIFA World Player Lionel Messi scored two late goals for Barca after Real's defend-and-counter plan had gone up in smoke thanks to the harsh sending-off of Pepe.
Real coach Jose Mourinho was then sent off for protesting, and furiously lashed out afterwards at German referee Wolfgang Stark.
"Congratulations to Barcelona," said the Portuguese coach, "but I just do not understand why Barcelona always receive the help of the referee. All my life I will be asking myself this question, and one day I hope to receive an answer."
Mourinho then raised eyebrows by saying: "We were hoping to finish 0-0, but the sending-off (of Pepe) gave them an open road to beat us. Now it is Mission Impossible for us."
The Portuguese coach finished by saying: "I am not too sad, I have a great family. But I don't understand why Barcelona have this power. It happened two years ago to Chelsea (in the 2009 semi-finals), almost to my Inter last year, and also to Arsenal this year.
"Why do the opponents of Barcelona always have a man sent off? Where does this power come from? Maybe it is to give more publicity to UNICEF, maybe because of the power of (Spanish federation president Jose Angel) Villar in UEFA."
Real's general director Jorge Valdano, for his part, said: "The decision to send off Pepe was crucial, it was the only thing in the match more important than Messi.
Valdano added that turning the tie around in Barcelona "is not impossible, because of the personality and history of this club."
Real midfielder Xabi Alonso also said "the decision (sending-off Pepe) was decisive, it changed everything. I know I am not impartial, but it was not a direct red card...This is a real pity"
Barca coach Pep Guardiola refused to respond to Mourinho's outburst.
"We have played a very good game," said Guardiola, "with a lot of control and balance. We also had aggression. I am very pleased with my players."
At half-time Barca's reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto had been given a direct red card for scuffling in the tunnel with the Real players.
All in all, referee Stark waved five yellow cards and three reds, including the ones for Pinto and Mourinho.
Barca enjoyed 71 per cent possession, with Real content to defend in depth and play on the break. This strategy had served them well in the April 20 Spanish cup final - won 1-0 by the whites - but failed badly this time.
Barca went out onto the Santiago Bernabeu pitch complaining about the long grass and at Real refusing to have the pitch watered. This was part of Mourinho's strategy to slow up the Catalan's famous smooth rhythm.
David Villa almost gave Barca an early lead with a left-foot drive from the right. Then Messi set up Xavi for a low shot that was well saved by Real keeper Iker Casillas.
Real defender Sergio Ramos was booked for hacking down the determined Messi and will be suspended for the second leg along with Pepe, who was given a harsh direct red card in the 61st minute for an ugly foul on Dani Alves.
With the hosts down to 10, the one-way traffic became even more intense, and Casillas again had to be at his sharpest to keep out Villa.
There was little that the Spain keeper could do 13 minutes from time, however, when Messi broke the deadlock with a close-range volley after sub Ibrahim Affelay had centred perfectly from the right.
Three minutes from time, Messi broke away in trademark fashion, skipped past four Real defenders and made it 2-0 with a calm right- foot finish.
On Tuesday, Manchester United took a giant step towards the final, which will be played in London's Wembley stadium, when they won 2-0 at Schalke 04 through goals by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.
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