TNT Sports
Ronaldo earns Real point
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Published 02/04/2006 at 00:03 GMT+1
A world-class finish by Ronaldo earned ten-man Real Madrid a point at Liga leaders Barcelona in Saturday's clasico. The former Barcelona striker superbly lobbed his side level after Ronaldinho's penalty opener to give Real a share of the spoils, despite R
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The veteran Brazil left-back had gifted Barcelona the lead after 20 minutes, diving recklessly into a challenge on Mark van Bommel to give international team-mate Ronaldinho the chance to send Iker Casillas the wrong way from the spot.
But barely five minutes later - having been booked for his penalty protests - Roberto Carlos tangled with Henrik Larsson.
As a free-kick was given against him, the Brazilian showed his frustration, making his point vociferously to the referee's assistant before clearly overstepping the mark - ref Luis Medina Cantalejo producing a straight red.
Larsson should have made Real pay in injury time, heading wide from close range when unmarked, but with Casillas superb in goal, Real rescued a deserved point.
SPECTACULAR
Barca were welcomed on to the pitch by a spectacular crimson and blue mosaic held up by the 98,000 fans at the Nou Camp and they responded with a high-tempo start.
Dutch midfielder Van Bommel gave Casillas a couple of early scares and leading striker Samuel Eto'o almost put the Catalans ahead with a vicious low drive but his shot was beaten away by the alert Real keeper.
Barca proceeded to pour through the Real midfield almost at will, although they took the lead in controversial circumstances after Van Bommel engineered a penalty when he easily went to ground under a Roberto Carlos challenge.
Ronaldinho sent Casillas the wrong way when he fired low into the corner with his spot kick.
Roberto Carlos picked up a booking as he complained about the decision and moments later lost his head and was given a straight red card after exchanging words with the referee when he was penalised for a foul on Henrik Larsson.
REFLEX SAVE
Real coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro responded by sacrificing Robinho to bring on Alvaro Mejia to strengthen his defence but it was Casillas who kept Real in the match when he produced another superb reflex save to deny Eto'o.
Minutes later Baptista and Ronaldo manufactured an equaliser out of the blue.
Baptista dinked a perfectly weighted pass over the halfway line into Ronaldo's path and the striker powered past the Barca defence before sending a classy chip over keeper Victor Valdes and into the net to score against his old side.
Barca lost their rhythm after the equaliser but had a golden opportunity to seal the game when Larsson was put in the clear midway through the half with only Casillas to beat.
The Real keeper stood his ground well, though, and diverted the Swede's shot away for a corner.
At the other end Ronaldo was booked for diving in the area and David Beckham was lucky not to get a yellow card as well after firing the ball in frustration at Luis Medina Cantalejo, a referee who has sent the England captain off twice before.
Barca laid siege to Real's area for most of the second half and Larsson missed another good chance when he headed wide in stoppage time but the Champions League quarter-finalists, who face Benfica next week, could not find a way past Casillas.
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