Abidal seals victory at the Bernabeu

Barça players joyful after scoring their winner goal Eric Abidal scored the winner as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-finals tie at the Bernabeu. Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics for his performance against Barcelona last month by scoring the opener after 11 minutes, picking up Karim Benzema's pass before driving past Gerard Pique and firing low past Jose Manuel Pinto.
Barcelona took control for the rest of the first period, but could not find a way through as Alexis Sanchez's header came back off the post and Andres Iniesta fired wide when well-placed inside the area. But four minutes into the second half they were level as Carles Puyol headed home Xavi's corner.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said: "We were winning 1-0 and that is a great result at home in a two-legged tie, but then we concede a goal from a dead ball and you cannot do that against a side with the quality of Barcelona.
"After that it is normal that our players were a little bit deflated and their players get a great boost from a goal just after half-time, and that was the key to the game. It will be extremely difficult, but the tie is still open," Mourinho added. "The league remains the priority and now we have to concentrate on a difficult game against Athletic Bilbao, but I am not going to admit defeat."
Iniesta and Benzema then saw efforts come back off the bar and post respectively before Abidal, who yesterday signed a one-year contract extension, latched on to Lionel Messi's excellent ball over the top to prod past Iker Casillas and score only his second goal in five seasons at the club.
Mourinho surprised many by recalling Ricardo Carvalho after 21 games out through injury and handing Hamit Altintop only his third start as a Real player at right-back. However, just as in the league clash between these two sides last month, it was the hosts who went ahead early on.
Ronaldo showed great pace to surge past Pique, but Pinto in the Barcelona goal was at fault as the ball crept between the goalkeeper's legs on its way into the net.
Barcelona responded by dominating for the remainder of the first half. Sanchez headed Cesc Fabregas' cross off the inside of the post and Iniesta should have equalised when the Chilean found him free inside the area, but for once the Spanish international's control deserted him and he couldn't squeeze the ball in from a tight angle.
Real held on until half-time, but just minutes after the break the Catalans were deservedly level as Xavi's corner picked out the completely unmarked Puyol and his diving header gave Casillas no chance.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was pleased with his side's response. "The important thing for us was that we came with the intention to score and to score away from home is important. We reacted well to going behind and to win is always a good feeling, but we have only played half the tie and Madrid is capable of anything.
Moments later Iniesta nearly put the visitors in front as more brilliant combination play between he and Fabregas put the Barça No8 through just inside the area, but Sergio Ramos got across to deflect his volley on to the bar.
Four minutes later it was Real who struck the woodwork as Altintop's cross was headed powerfully against the post by Benzema. But Real were still struggling to create chances, and Mourinho brought on Mesut Ozil and Jose Maria Callejon for Gonzalo Higuain and Lassana Diarra in the search of a winner.
Callejon's first contribution, however, was to get booked for a late challenge on Messi. Unusually it was Barça's set-pieces that were causing Real the most problems and from another Xavi free-kick Sergio Busquets headed just over when he should have found the target.
The winner did eventually arrive for Barcelona, though, and predictably Messi was heavily involved. Messi escaped Real's pressure in the midfield and scooped a wonderful ball over the top for Abidal, who kept his cool to slot past Casillas.