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Messi gives Barca 2-0 win over 10-man Real Madrid

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-28 11:23

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) reacts after he gets trapped underneath Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos during their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, April 27, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MADRID - Lionel Messi lit up an ill-tempered Champions League semifinal on Wednesday with two goals in the last 15 minutes to give Barcelona a 2-0 victory at 10-man Real Madrid.

Barcelona dominated throughout but only managed to break through after Madrid midfielder Pepe was red-carded in the 61st at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

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Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands for protesting the decision, which left Madrid playing with 10 against Barcelona for the fourth straight game.

Messi guided substitute Ibrahim Afellay's cross through the legs of goalkeeper Iker Casillas to open the scoring in the 76th minute and with three minutes to play, the elusive Argentina forward brilliantly ghosted past three defenders before clipping the ball past Casillas for his 52nd goal of the season, and 11th in the Champions League.

"We came here with a lot of problems, we had four players from the second team on the bench, but we controlled the ball," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, whose team was without injured midfielder Andres Iniesta.

"Real Madrid didn't create any opportunities in the first half and to do this in this stadium in the Champions League semifinal is very difficult."

Mourinho has seen his team finish with 10 players in his last five matches against Barcelona, counting Inter Milan's 1-0 defeat at Barcelona in the semifinal return leg last year.

"If I say to (the referee) and to UEFA what I think and feel, my career ends today," Mourinho said. "One day I hope to get an answer to the question: why?"

It was Barcelona's first win in three games between the bitter rivals in 12 days after a 1-1 league draw and a 1-0 extra-time Copa del Rey final defeat.

Madrid's defense in Tuesday's return leg will be short-handed with Pepe and Sergio Ramos both suspended. Ramos was booked for a foul on Messi in the 53rd.

Referee Wolfgang Stark of Germany (L) shows a red card to Real Madrid's Pepe during their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match against Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, April 27, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Mourinho described progress to the final as "mission impossible" as he continued to bemoan his side's treatment by the referee.

If Barcelona does close out the victory, Manchester United is most likely to be waiting in the May 28 Wembley final after the English side's 2-0 win at Schalke on Tuesday.

However, Guardiola said he wouldn't count out Mourinho's team yet.

"A team that has nine European Cups never gives up on a series, I'm convinced of that," Guardiola said. "We played a very good game. We controlled their counterattacks, their aerial game which is very dangerous."