Barcelona - Real Madrid, Copa del Rey, 25 Jan 2012

What a match!
RM like a hurricane sending non-stop bolts of lightning screaming down on Barcelona. Barça like a flock of seabirds weaving their way through the raging elements to peck out the eye of the storm god.
I've never seen Madrid press so high and hard, or Barcelona pass with such speed and precision under such close and aggressive marking.
No time for showboating, and precious little time to think at all. Ronaldo without the preening! Özil like a mercurial mix of Messi and Beckham (!). Puyol's one-man drive down the whole pitch! Kaká on form! Xavi and Xabi playing blinders. Pepé getting his come-uppance from Messi. Ramos everywhere, Pinto running the gamut, Piqué strong and supple, Casillas requiring every goal against him to be a miracle...
And Danny Alves rounding it all off with that miracle goal.
Now just imagine being part of all this in the flesh!
What a match...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/25/barcelona-real-madrid-copa-del-rey