Real Madrid vs Barcelona, April 2011
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If it was Van Persie’s red card that changed the game for Barcelona in the first knockout stage, then it was a red card for Pepe that changed the balance of the semi-final.
The first leg of the tie was at the Santiago Bernabeu and Jose Mourinho’s side had set out to frustrate the visitors with some impeccable defending. Barcelona found it extremely hard to breach Real’s line of defence and on the very few occasions they managed to muster a shot on target, Casillas was up for the task.
The game was a heated one with numerous on and off the ball incidents. During the half-time break the referee was forced to dismiss Barcelona’s substitute keeper for a fracas on the touchline. The referee’s resolve on the field was broken at the hour mark when he showed a straight red to the influential Pepe!
The decision infuriated the Real Madrid players and the manager, and rightly so. Pepe was only trying to win the ball and it was not under the full control of Alves when he went for it. The referee however was conned by Alves who went down like a pack of cards under no contact.
The worst Pepe should have got for that incident was a yellow. To add to Real Madrid’s misery, Mourinho was also sent to the stands for protesting the referee’s decision.
Pepe’s red card was a game changing moment as Barcelona went on to score two vital away goals and win the game. It left Real Madrid an uphill task going into the second leg. Real had a goal from Higuain controversially ruled out in the return leg which ended in a 1-1 draw.
