Download Barcelona Vs Real Madrid Full Match
Lisabeth Klatt
"It's the first time for me with Madrid, very happy to reach a final," Courtois said after the match. "It was a difficult road. We went away to Villarreal, played Atletico at home and then a semifinal with Barca. We're there and we've won, we're happy to play another final.
\"It's the first time for me with Madrid, very happy to reach a final,\" Courtois said after the match. \"It was a difficult road. We went away to Villarreal, played Atletico at home and then a semifinal with Barca. We're there and we've won, we're happy to play another final.
AFP - Real Madrid's run of wins came to an end on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu by city rivals Atletico, allowing Barcelona to extend their lead at the top to six points.
After two successive defeats Barcelona got back on track with a 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao to stretch their advantage over Real by two points.
Real had won ten straight league games to cut Barcelona's advantage from 12 points to four in just three games and were hoping to put wind in their sails for Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Liverpool at Anfield, a match in which they trail 1-0 from the first leg.
Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan put Atletico ahead on 38 minutes with his 18th goal of the season but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - cup-tied for the Champions League - equalised after 57 minutes.
"We are six points behind now but it is not insurmountable," said Real coach Juande Ramos. "It is just two games and Barcelona still have to come to the Bernabeu."
The draw meant Atletico's derby hoodoo continues and they have not beaten Real since a 3-1 win back in 1999.
Atletico felt hard done by against Real and striker Sergio "Kun" Aguero vented his frustration at not being awarded a late penalty claiming the referee took the easy way out.
"It was a penalty," fumed Aguero. "It was the final incident in the game but you aren't going to get a penalty in the dying minutes at the Bernabeu.
"I looked at the clock and there was a minute left and he (the referee) wasn't going to give it."
Atletico fall five points behind fourth-placed Villarreal who defeated Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday.
Luis Garcia missed a penalty for struggling Espanyol and Villarreal held on to their slender advantage to close to within two points of Sevilla in third.
The Atletico point was good news for Barcelona who capitalised with victory over Bilbao in a match-up between this season's two Kings Cup finalists.
Sergi Busquets, 20, scored his first goal for the club using his 6ft 2in frame to head home before Lionel Messi converted a penalty to take his season's tally to 18 goals.
"We just have to worry what we are doing and not talk about Real Madrid, only Barcelona," explained Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.
"Are we back to our best? Well we won and kept a clean sheet which is great but to be honest we were playing well before. However, we were conceding goals and drawing or losing the games."
It was a crucial win for Barcelona and their next task is at home to Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday with the tie 1-1 after the first leg.
Personnel problems saw Ramos use French midfielder Lass Diarra as an emergency right back for Sergio Ramos who was required at centre-half.
Against Aguero and Forlan - who tore Barcelona to pieces in last weekend's 4-3 win - it was a big ask.
The two combined to give Atletico the lead with Aguero setting up Forlan to smash the ball past Iker Casillas.
Atletico had not won a derby against their arch rivals for a decade and the wait goes on after Huntelaar equalised on 57 minutes.
For Barcelona it was a relief to see pursuers Real drop points and their peformance against Bilbao would have pleased manager Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona were awarded a number of free-kicks and made one count in the 17th minute when Xavi's fantastic cross was headed in by the tall Busquets.
Just after the hour mark the hosts were then awarded a penalty when the speedy Andres Iniesta was clipped in the box.
The ice-cool Messi converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Iniesta hit the post early in the second half and Barcelona could have won by eight or nine with Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry missing a glut of chances.
AFP - Real Madrid spurned the chance to replace Barcelona at the top of the Spanish first division on Sunday as they fired blanks in a frustrating 0-0 draw at Osasuna.
Barcelona had dropped two points as they lost their 100-percent home record with a 1-1 draw against Villarreal on Saturday, but Real could not capitalize and stay two points behind the champions in second.
It was only the second time Real had failed to score in the league this season - the other occasions being a 1-0 loss at Barcelona and a 0-0 draw with Sporting Gijon.
"We did everything we could but just couldn't score," said Brazilian Marcelo. "Osasuna's back-line was well-organised and made it very difficult for us to get through.
"We planned to be up at the top with Barcelona but it wasn't possible. Now we have to rest and think about the next game."
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini was without Kaka as the Brazilian recovered from a groin injury so Rafael van der Vaart coninued as the attacking midfielder behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.
With Pepe out injured for the season, Argentine Ezequiel Garay joined Raul Albiol in central defence although they were largely untroubled until the 41st minute when a Javad Nekounam header stirred goalkeeper Iker Casillas into action.
Higuain, with five goals in his last three matches, had Real's best chance on 65 minutes but goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez denied the Argentine. Real replaced Higuain with captain Raul in a last throw of the dice but it was to no avail.
While Barcelona have a last 16 Kings Cup match against Sevilla on Tuesday, Real can rest up as they have already been eliminated by minnows Alcorcon.
Osasuna have now held champions Barcelona (1-1) and Real at their Reyno de Navarra stadium and beat them both last season in the final two games of the campaign.
Real Mallorca are Real's next opponents and they moved above Sevilla into fourth place with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao as they maintained their perfect home record with an eighth successive home victory.
"We are fourth but we face Real Madrid on their patch in the next league game and it will be difficult to get points there," said Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano.
Julio Alvarez scored the Mallorca opener on 49 minutes to open the scoring before Aritz Aduriz netted his eighth goal of the season against old club Bilbao after 67 minutes.
Mallorca are now in the final Champions League spot and turn their attention to the Kings Cup as they travel to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
New Almeria coach Juanma Lillo enjoyed a winning start as his side clinched a crucial 1-0 win over relegation rivals Xerez.
Substitute Jose Ortiz Bernal netted an 89th minute winner just three minutes after coming on to gift Lillo a debut win after taking over from axed Mexican Hugo Sanchez.
"I am not bothered about the fact that it was my debut but more that we won the match. That was the most important thing," said Lillo.
"The three points help us make a good leap in the table and see things a bit differently."
Almeria move three points above the relegation zone while basement boys Xerez slide towards relegation lying eight points from safety with just one win all season.
Struggling Malaga were left frustrated as they twice surrendered the lead to be pegged back 2-2 at Sporting Gijon and stay third from bottom.
At the other end of the table Deportivo La Coruna missed the chance to move level on points with fourth-placed Sevilla, who lost 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday, with a 0-0 draw at Real Zaragoza.