Oh, this will be controversial. After Pepe was penalised for handball when it looked as though he'd gone clear of the Barcelona defence, the visitors marched straight back downfield and sent striker David Villa clean through on Iker Casillas' goal. Casillas raced out to close down the angle and make a challenge, sending his international teammate stumbling as the ball rolled out of play - without making any contact with the ball. The referee didn't award a penalty, gave a goal kick, and then booked Gerard Pique for dissent after the big defender quite rightly protested that it was a fairly clear spot kick. Casillas is a lucky boy - Real Madrid should probably be down 1-0 already.
Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona 2011, El Clasico: David Villa Denied Clear Penalty
Whenever Barcelona press forward, however, they’re opening up space on the Madrid left for Angel di Maria to exploit. Dani Alves is pushing far too high up the pitch, and di Maria is doing an excellent job working that flank and trying to hit Barcelona on the counterattack. If Real can score, that’s where it will come from, although the next time he tries a shot from eight yards out and an impossible angle Jose Mourinho might kill him.
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