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Messi’s two goals settled a scrappy and tense
affair at the Bernabeu and gave Barcelona a huge advantage to take back
to the Nou Camp.

The Argentine met
Ibrahim Afellay’s low cross from the right to steer past Iker Casillas
from close range 14 minutes from time to break the deadlock.

Messi
then netted a wonderful second three minutes from time when he weaved
his way into the Real penalty area and slotted past Casillas to give
the Catalan side a two-goal cushion to take into Tuesday’s return back
in Barcelona.

Mourinho was sent
off for his protestations soon after midfielder Pepe was dismissed in
the 61st minute by referee Wolfgang Stark for a flying tackle on Daniel
Alves.

Tempers had already flared at halftime with players and officials involved in a melee near the tunnel.

Barcelona reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto was sent off for his part in an unsightly fracas.

A
confrontation between Barca midfielder Seydou Keita and Real defender
Alvaro Arbeloa as they left the pitch appeared to spark the trouble,
which was quickly ended by security staff and police.

The
Real fans turned the giant arena into a sea of white flags before
kickoff, while several thousand Barca faithful waving Catalan banners
high up in the stands tried to make themselves heard above the din.

Real
tore into Barca and stopped them playing in the first half of last
week’s King’s Cup final but it was a different story on Wednesday as
the visitors dominated possession without showing too much ambition in
attack.

David Villa cut in from
the right wing in the 11th minute and sent a low drive whistling past
the post and Messi sent Xavi clear in the 25th but his effort was
straight at Casillas.

The home
side’s best effort of the first half came moments before the break when
Cristiano Ronaldo tested Victor Valdes with a swerving effort the Barca
keeper just managed to block.

The
second half was short on the kind of attacking football Real and Barca
normally produce as the visitors again controlled the ball without ever
really threatening the home goal until Messi broke the deadlock and
then gave Barca a huge boost for the return leg at the Nou Camp next
Tuesday with his second.</