As the referee was about to blow up for half time, with Barça leading by a single goal, a coming together between the two captains had horns locked.
In what was to be the final act of the first half of Saturday night's LaLiga encounter between great rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi clashed, taking the temperature of the match a touch higher.
Ramos and Messi clash
Ivan Rakitic had given Barça the lead midway through the first half but, as per much of the Copa match on Wednesday, the overall play was even. There were, however, a number of incidents that suggested players were getting fiestier.
These confrontations came to a head, quite literally, in the final moments of the first half. A loose ball was contested by both captains and, while Ramos came away with the ball, it appeared he may have left a stray arm in the face of the Argentine. The Barça man rolled on the ground as play continued - play that gave his teammates a chance to knock the ball out for treatment which they chose not to - before the referee eventually stopped the action. At this point the two players squared up, Messi pointing out his displeasure, and their heads were planted together.
The half time whistle then blew with no action being taken by the official.
Ditaekoty
122
Barca fans are the most outspoken, very reactive, very insulting; they're kind of have what I could call "stupid passion" for their team; they feel that nobody, especially RM players shouldn't touch their players; they'd be worship in the field by RM players; any slightly touch to Barca players by RM players, they'll rain insults, abuses on everyone including the referee but when their players hurt RM players , they clap hands forgetting that football game is a mild fight or war because it's regulated.
maturyne
70
Ramos makes me feel some people don't get what they want in life... He wanted to be a wrestler but ended up being a footballer[Crylaugh]