Can RM appeal the red card/suspension of Pepe? Clearly not a sending-off at all..
Missed the 2nd half (saw ITV highlights) but two magnificent goals by Messi gave Barcelona a deserved (just about - having 80% possession and doing nothing with it doesn't give you a divine right to win a game) win on the night. Barca's plan B coming through again.. If at first passing around with no end product doesn't succeed.. Uh... Give it to Messi and watch on.
You have to say that had Pepe been on the pitch, though - the likelihood of Messi scoring that 2nd goal would have been significantly less likely. Not just because it means they have 11 men, rather than 10 but because Pepe had him in his pocket until he was harshly sent off. His no-nonsense approach to man-marking Messi and going in hard whenever he got the ball limited his impact almost entirely.
Getting really sick of Barca (and Real to an extent: Di Maria and Marcelo, particularly) and their ugly antics on the pitch. Both Pedro and Busquets (again - third time in 2 years) fell down holding their faces after minimal contact. The challenge by Arbelona on Pedro wasn't even anywhere near being malicious or anywhere near his face.
@CJACKO - Better defence, same problems. V vulnerable to counter-attacking (especially with Nani getting in behind Dani Alves), inability to defend set-pieces properly (Vidic, Smalling, Ferdinand all brilliant in the air) and lack of adequate cover. If Puyol or Pique are injured, they're pretty screwed. Abidal was superb against Arsenal but may not be able to do that again and Milito is really poor.
They also have a better forward-line, but again - same problems. They don't take a lot of chances - against us, against Madrid several times over - and Utd won't give them as many chances with a better side and not a make-shift Cup side. and they overcomplicate it a lot of the time as well.
The main difference between Arsenal and Barca is that they have Messi tbh. Obviously they're generally a better side but Messi can change a game in an instant - on his own, he's effectively Barca's Plan B: Knock it around for a while and hope for an opening.. If that fails, give it to Messi and watch him go.