Pepe got sent off in last year’s semi-final, this year he should have taken an early bath as well. 

 Arguably the worst player on the pitch, he was on the ground clutching his face most of the time- while the rest were spent trying to get Barcelona players sent off.

 He should have been sent off on at least three occasions, the most obvious one was when he purposely trod on Messi’s fingers while the Argentine lay on the ground.

 It may not all be his wrongdoing, instructions may have come from the ‘Special One’ to rile up the opposition. Hardly surprising if it was true. 

 The main reason Mourinho placed three defensive midfielders was to snuff out the danger of Lionel Messi. 

In that sense, his tactics were somewhat  a measly success. 

The tiny magician was crowded out by Diarra and Pepe each time he had possession, and if he escaped their shackles the shadow of Ricardo Carvalho would immediately hound him.

But it barely mattered, Barcelona merely went about their usual game plan, using the runs of Iniesta, Abidal and Dani Alves instead. 

They still maintained the majority of possession and kept Real Madrid pinned in their own half for the majority of the game. 

Messi remains the heartbeat of Barcelona, but it still pumps on strongly without his influence. 

1. 4) Because They Have The World’s Best Midfield

 With Messi playing a peripheral figure, someone had to fill in the attacking void. Step in Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas. 

These three men made Bernabeu their own training ground, knocking the ball around with ease as if the opposition wasn’t there. 

Real Madrid chased three black shadows all night and only wound up giving away fouls and getting cautioned.

In truth, the crossbar saved Real Madrid from further humiliation as Alexis Sanchez and Iniesta were inches away from a bigger scoreline, thanks to Fabregas’s brilliant vision. 

 If a midfield such as Real’s were made to look like second class citizens, how about much lesser illustrious opponents? 

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   1. 5) Barcelona Are Still A Class Above Real Madrid
   2.  
   3. The most obvious fact of all.  

      Barcelona have won all three Classico’s after losing in the Spanish Cup final last year. 

      Since then they have dominated the Whites in terms of possessions, goals, fouls and even cards.

      Real Madrid may have a 5 point advantage of Barcelona in the league- but when it comes to the Classico showdown, Barcelona weave their magic and take centre stage almost all the time.