Champions league - semi-final, second leg

Real Madrid (2) 1 - Barcelona (0) 1

It's all over. Real Madrid go through to the Champions League final after drawing 1-1 with Barcelona in their second leg match. With a 0-2 victory in the bag from the first leg at the Nou Camp, Madrid were strong favourites to win the first meeting of the two giants in Europe in 42 years. However Barça gave them a good fight early on, keeping up a constant pressure on César's goal. But once again though they could not finish off, with their best chance an effort from Cocu who deflected Rochemback's shot onto the post. Madrid though came back into the game after the half hour mark, with Guti forcing a good save out of Bonano and Raúl turning well but shooting weakly at goal. But then just before half time it was Raúl who made the difference, winning the ball off Xavi and running on to fire a shot into the top corner of Bonano's net. It was a killer blow, and left Barcelona with the impossible task of scoring three in the last 45 minutes.

With the game virtually over Del Bosque rested Zidane at half time, and Rexach brought on Overmars for the injured Coco. Guti wasted a great chance to end the game early when free in front of goal, Bonano once again saving the day. It was a big let off, and within a minutes the visitors had equalised, Iván Helguera unable to get out of the way as Saviola touched on Cocu's pass and turning the ball past his own keeper. Barcelona kept coming forward, but Luis Enrique shot just wide when set up by Kluivert and the Dutch striker put a good chance over the bar himself. It summed up a frustrating evening for the Catalans, and Real Madrid stroll comfortably on to play Bayer Leverkusen in the final in Glasgow in two weeks time, looking to win a record ninth European cup. (01.05.02)