Diving antics between Barcelona and Real half as bad as Bernabeu



Following the histrionics from the first leg, which darkened the name of Spanish football, did these two teams manage to restore their reputation last night by reducing the amount of simulation? We chart the amount of diving at Camp Nou.

Messi sent flying

With Barca's Argentine wizard running at full speed 12 minutes in, Ricardo Carvalho sticks a foot out and brings him down. The touch was soft, a yellow card comes out.

Shouldering the blame

Messi sets off on 17 minutes but Lassana Diarra muscles him out with a strong shoulder. The Argentine throws himself on the floor and the referee tells him to get up.

Wing play wasted

Angel Di Maria, Real's Argentine wideman, dribbles past two players on 26 minutes, loses the ball and throws himself down. A dive, but the ref is not fooled.

Carvalho on a tight rope

It appears as though the Portuguese centre-back has clobbered Messi; a replay shows he barely touched him. The referee gives a foul and Barca players call for a second yellow.

That's how to do it

Barca's Javier Mascherano perfects the art of diving with a perfect tumble over Xabi Alonso on 29 minutes.

Luck not to see red

Carvalho is a split second late on Messi just before the break - the referee could have given a second yellow.

Goal disallowed

Just after half time, Ronaldo charges towards the box and falls, catching Mascherano. As the ball rolls to Gonzalo Higuain to score, Mascherano is performing several forward rolls that see the goal chalked off.

Luck not to see red

Sergio Busquets is replicating his first leg antics. Second to the ball on 57 minutes, his scream of "agony" still manage to get Diarra booked.

Not the Real deal

Alvaro Arbeloa, the Real right-back shows that defenders know how to dive too. Jumps over Mascherano's foot on 69 minutes. No free kick.

Bad sportsmanship

Diarra goes in fair on Mascherano, who rolls around trying to get the Real man sent off. Disgraceful.

Verdict

Mascherano and Busquets the main culprits. Not as bad as the first leg, but could it have got any worse?

* Thomas Woods

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