Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho,
Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Khedira (Callejón 58'); Di María
(Coentrão 53'), Özil, Cristiano Ronaldo; Benzema (Higuaín
81'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés;
Dani Alves, Mascherano, Abidal, Adriano (Piqué 61'); Thiago (Xavi 58'),
Keita, Iniesta; Alexis, Messi, David Villa (Pedro 73'). 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 13. Özil. Controlled Benzema pass and
clipped shot wide of Valdés.
1-1. 36. Villa. Picked up Messi pass
and curled angled shot over Casillas.
1-2. 45. Messi. Won ball back off
Khedira and slid low shot under keeper.
2-2. 54. Xabi Alonso. Steered low
shot past Valdés after Pepe laid ball back.
A new season, a few new faces, but same old result! Having played many more pre-season games this summer, Madrid were clear favourites. And when Özil controlled Benzema's pass to open the scoring in the thirteenth minute, it seemed they might run away with it. But with ten minutes to go to the break David Villa levelled the scores with an impressive shot from left of the area, and on the stroke of half time Messi battled through past four defenders to give the visitors the lead. Xabi Alonso made it all square again soon after the restart after Pepe laid the ball back following an Özil corner, but Valdés and his defence held off a series of attacks after that to take the advantage for next Wednesday's second leg.