If Chelsea left Barcelona wounded, Real Madrid poleaxed them
last night. They may still be joint top of the table and two points
ahead of their bitterest rivals, but the talk will be of crisis in
Catalonia this morning. The European and Spanish champions lost
more than a match here.
Fabio Capello, has the fans on his side at last: nothing makes you
loved quite like beating Barça.These are three important points,
bringing us closer to Barcelona and are a major psychological boost
for the players."
This was the Ronaldinho from Stamford Bridge. Uninspired, he seemed
slow and uninterested.
The other man who scored in last year's fixture, Samuel Eto'o, was
at home, advised by the doctors not even to watch the match after
suffering a knee injury that will keep him out until March. How
Barcelona missed him.
Frank Rijkaard refused to be downcast. "We've lost a game but not
the league. We've lost at a difficult ground and have to accept it
but it doesn't mean we will lose sight of our final
objective.
03' Raul , 51' van Nistelrooy