"This was Mission Impossible IV," Ronaldo told reporters after the match.
“We knew that this was going to happen. We're used to living with these things. They took away our chance to reach the final in the first-leg at the Bernabeu. Here, no, here it was just the same thing.
"There are lots of things together. What happened at the Bernabeu, what happened today, these are things to think about. Barcelona have a great team but there's something behind it. It was hard to play with 10-men after our red card against Barcelona, and it was hard to play with the goal disallowed today.
"[Gerard] Pique touched me and I fell on to [Javier] Mascherano. He wasn't like this at Liverpool: he learned the cheats of Barcelona.
"The dressing room is extremely sad," Ronaldo added. "It's very difficult to play with these setbacks."
Barcelona 1 - 1 Real Madrid Champions League Highlights Video,Barcelona vs Real Madrid 3 5 2011, Barcelona vs Real Madrid 3 May 2011, Champions League, El Clasico,
Jose Mourinho has included 19 men on his squad list for tomorrow's second leg of the Champions League semifinals at Camp Nou (20:45 CET). Carvalho (suspended in the first leg) and youth teamer Nacho have made the cut. Pepe and Ramos are suspended for the game. Gago and Khedira have stayed in Madrid due to injuries. Canales and Pedro Leon have been left out.
The squad believes the team can turn the aggregate score around at Camp Nou: "Real Madrid never give up a fight"
Real Madrid have always stood out for their hard work, drive and pursuit of victory to their very last breath. The club's values go hand in hand with unbelievable comebacks and turnarounds accomplished in Europe by the team throughout its history. Jose Mourinho's side is ready to pick up from where its predecessors left off and will travel to Barcelona sure of its chances to turn things around in the Champions League semifinals. The squad and all Madridistas dream of reaching the 28 May final at Wembley.
Iker Casillas "The names of the two teams that will play the final haven't been inscribed yet. You never know what may happen. We will play in Barcelona knowing a final is set to take place in a month and that any of the four teams still in the championship may be in it."
Sergio Ramos "We are in a complicated spot in this tie, but we'll have to go for it at Camp Nou. We're hopeful. We will try to do a good job and look for a victory."
Higuain
"We have a great chance in the Champions League and we will fight to the death. What matters is that we stick together to reach the final we are all so excited about. We're good enough to win the tie, so we will try our best. We must be proud and humble. The fact that Barça defeated us in Madrid means we can also defeat them in Barcelona."
Kaka "We expect to play a great game. We have faith. Real Madrid can never give up a fight."
Jorge Valdano, Director General "Madridismo always believes in comebacks. If there was just one team that had the habit of being heroic, it would be Real Madrid. Nothing should deprive us of feeling hope and excitement for Tuesday's match."
Real Madrid suffered an unexpected upset against Zaragoza at the Bernabeu. The visiting side did its best to earn curcial points to avoid relegation, while the pace to Mourinho's game gruadually increased as the match unfolded. Real Madrid seemed to be thinking about Tuesday's clash in Barcelona and made decisive mistakes. History and tradition prevent them from giving up on their options in the Champions League, for which they will start preparing now.
Captains Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos presented the recently won Copa del Rey trophy to the Bernabeu crowd before the match kicked-off. Mourinho used the same lineup as in the team's spectacular victory against Valencia last week. On the other hand, Zaragoza based their offensive power on the speed of Lafita and Uche. The Whites lacked concentration in the opening minutes, but they didn't suffer to keep Aguirre's men in check since they barely reached Casillas' goal. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper failed to clear a ball on the 40-minute mark and Uche controlled it, then assisting Lafita in the opening strike.
The second half was decidedly different. Real Madrid pressurised much more in attack, stealing the ball in Zaragoza's half of the pitch. But the visitors managed to score again from a fast counterattack that ended in a penalty awarded to Lafita and converted by Gabi (53'). Mourinho brought Marcelo and Ozil on, the latter serving a corner kick on the 61-minute mark finished off perfectly by Ramos. With half an hour left on the clock, the Bernabeu started to roar in support of its team.
Controversy ensued when Lanzaro clearly challenged Kaka late inside the box and no penalty was awarded (65'). Once again, referees made a mistake in detriment of Real Madrid in an effort that could have been decisive. To everyone's greater despair, Benzema's shot three minutes later hit the corssbar.
Real Madrid sieged Zaragoza's goal, but the visitors scored from a fast counterattack started by Uche and finished off again by Lafita (76').
Benzema netted a brilliant crossed shot with six minutes left in the game (84') and the Whites believed a comeback was possible, but Carvalho was sent off with a second booking one minute after the goal and the team was down to ten. Kaka nearly scored an equaliser on the 92-minute mark, but his header was saved in two steps by keeper Doblas. There was no time for more. Real Madrid must now concentrate on turning the aggregate score around in the Champions League to reach the Wembley final.
