Real Madrid were on a high after clinching the 2011 Copa del Rey. At the Mestalla Stadium on April 20, things worked out perfectly for Jose Mourinho and his men as Barcelona were left to rue their lack of efficiency on the night.
But from the top of the bus to the very ground, the Spanish Cup trophy slipped from Sergio Ramos’ hands and fell—and was reportedly fragmented into pieces. And as if this freak incident had a meaning, Real Madrid have appeared to fall from the top of their domestic triumph to the ground of Europe’s battlefield.
Ironically, they did so in their very own stadium, the historical Santiago Bernabeu, after controversy saw a Messi-inspired Barcelona prevail. 2-0 was the final score line between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the first leg of both teams’ UEFA Champions League semi-final tie—also entitled El Clasico III. 2-0 is not seen as an emphatic score line on a scoreboard, but in a two-legged tie it certainly is huge and hard to overcome—especially when the victors are named Barcelona.
However, football keeps reminding fans that absolutely nothing is impossible and the rules of the UEFA Champions League explains that a respectable 3-1 victory in Barcelona vs Real Madrid would be enough for the Spanish giants to reach the final of the tournament at Wembley. The question is, can Los Blancos revive their wounded bodies in a stadium that isn’t theirs after suffering a collapse in their Bernabeu fortress?
“A comeback is certainly not impossible,” said Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano when asked about Real Madrid's chances to reach the UEFA Champions League final.
“We will have 11 Real Madrid players on the pitch again and are going to show a great fighting spirit. We won't give up. We will play to our own strengths and in a way that characterises this club.
“Madridismo always believes in comebacks. If there is one team that has the habit of being heroic, it would be Real Madrid. I don't think anything should deprive us of feeling hope and excitement ahead of Tuesday's match. We must have faith in our extraordinary players.”
It’s been quite a long time, though, since Real Madrid have picked up a win at the Camp Nou. With their last trip at that venue ending in a humiliating 5-0 defeat, one may like to wonder how Los Blancos will turn the tables around and even more so at such a critical moment.
Real Madrid are carrying a deep wound with a 2-0 disadvantage on their back as an “impossible mission” looms at the Camp Nou. Barcelona struck the Spanish giants with the sword in the Spanish capital, but did the Catalans actually killed them for good? Real Madrid may have been crucified a few days ago by their greatest foes, but no-one knows if Barcelona vs Real Madrid 2011 IV will turn into a “miracle of the cross” for Los Blancos to overcome the Jose Mourinho-named “scandal of the Santiago Bernabeu”...
