Barcelona 2 - 2 Real Madrid (Cup Quarterfinals 2nd Leg)

One more goal. That's all Real Madrid needed to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. The Whites gave a masterclass in pride and courage, deserving to score the opener from several clear chances. Barcelona eventually netted two in the last five minutes of the first half, but Real never gave up, making a comeback and coming close to netting a third that would have given them the pass.

Football was unfair with Real Madrid, who just 15 seconds into the game had a clamorous chance to score when Higuain's shot was off target when he was facing Pinto alone. A perfect counterattack begun by Kaka with a pass down the left for Ronaldo also proved dangerous, but Alves and Pinto managed to clear the striker's shot (10'). The Whites reached their opponent's box with ease and they could have scored again on the 18-minute mark had the referee awarded a penalty when Busquets used his hands to clear a Pepe header.

The Madridistas were setting the pace to the match and managed to silence the stands. Ozil gave them another scare with an amazing 25-meter shot that hit the crossbar (25'), and Pinto managed to clear an Higuain strike inside the box two minutes later. It was a miracle that Barça hadn't yet conceded a goal, and fate had it they would end up scoring the opener from the first chance they had through Pedro, who finished off a Messi pass (42'). It was a harsh blow and Alves banked a second strike from outside the box in injury time.

Real Madrid never give up and came out from the dressing room fighting for a comeback when the crowd thought it was all over. Mourinho refreshed his side with Granero, Callejon and Benzema, who came on for Lass, Higuain and Kaka. Their first strike finally arrived when Ozil served a perfect pass through the lines to Ronaldo, who overtook Puyol, dribbled past Pitno and sent the ball in with his right foot.

The crowd became a little restless and was soon silenced when Benzema pulled off a masterpiece by receiving a head pass from Callejon, sending the ball over Puyol and scoring the equaliser with his right foot. Mourinho's men continued looking for a winner and nearly found it again through Benzema, who dribbled past Puyol but didn't manage to net another goal.

Summary

Stadium: Nou Camp
Attendance: 95,400
Goals: 1-0, min.42: Pedro. 2-0, min.46+: Alves. 2-1. min.68: Cristiano Ronaldo. 2-2, min.71: Benzema.