The game springs to life as a dangerous looking run from each side is thwarted by an excellent defensive challenge. Lionel Messi starts us off with a blistering run down the right channel only to be shouldered off the ball but the much larger Lassana Diarra, sending the Argentine tumbling. Messi protests, but no foul is forthcoming, and Real Madrid can break through Angel di Maria.
Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid, 2011 UEFA Champions League Semifinal: Game Opening Up As Messi, Di Maria Make Strong Runs
Di Maria attempts to do a Messi, blasting towards the Barcelona defence, but as he tries to break into the penalty box he strays too close to Gerard Pique and the defender robs him with a wonderful sliding challenge. Seconds later and Gonzalo Higuain is declared offside at the end of a promising Real Madrid attack - incorrectly, as it turns out. No matter, though, as the ball just about went through to Victor Valdes rather than ending up with the striker, but that was very, very close.
This is the fourth of four matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona. You can view our coverage of the April 16th, 20th and 27th matches here, here and here, with live coverage of Real Madrid vs Barcelona on May 3 in this story stream.
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