A Real heroic effort needed

Barcelona: Real Madrid will need a heroic performance as it seeks to repeat a 2002 Champions League semifinal win against Barcelona when the teams meet in Tuesday's second leg.

Real lost last week's first leg 2-0 at home to Barcelona but is determined to repeat its feat of nine years ago when it won 2-0 in the first-leg in Camp Nou.

It then drew the second leg 1-1 to reach the final, where it beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in Glasgow for its record ninth triumph.

“Real Madrid is a team accustomed to heroics,” said Jorge Valdano, Real's general director.

“We have hope for Tuesday. The players will make a special effort.”

Defender Sergio Ramos said: “We have to be aware of the difficulties, but it is not impossible.

“We will have to give it everything in Barcelona.”

Ramos suspended

Ramos is suspended for the second leg, along with Pepe, whose sending-off in the first leg provoked a maelstrom of accusations and acrimony.

Coach Jose Mourinho was sent off for protesting Pepe's red card, and then accused UEFA of giving Barcelona “special treatment.”

He will be up in the Camp Nou stands rather than on the bench.

First-leg: Real Madrid 0 lost to Barcelona 2. — DPA