Barca holds off Madrid rally to reach cup semis – World Soccer – Yahoo! Sports.

Barcelona once again got the better of their closest rivals in La Liga by knocking out Real Madrid in the quarter finals of the Copa Del Rey. After taking a two goal lead over Real, Barcelona were pegged back to 2-2 as the game finished in a draw. After the Catalans had won the first leg 1-0 at The Bernabeu last week, Barcelona advanced to the semi finals on aggregate 4-3 of Spain’s equivalent of the FA Cup.

What caught my eye the most from this game was the incredible news that Real Madrid players apparently voiced their concerns in the dressing room that they no longer believe they are capable of winning at the Nou Camp, having been beaten so many times there before by Barcelona, and the referees. It’s for this reason that I no longer consider this game as a “Clasico” and that it is undeserved of the reverence with which it is regarded by fans around the world. This attitude from the Real players has to literally burn a hole right through Real manager Jose Mourinho who prides himself on producing fierecely competitive teams that never give up. No doubt some observers will question the accuracy of the rumor but Mourinho’s reaction to questions from the Spanish media after the game suggest what was said was true.

Many claims are made from European soccer fans about how La Liga is considered “the most exciting” or the “best” League in the world, but I can tell you that there isn’t a leading club anywhere else in Europe whose players would make such a ridiculously damning statement to it’s fans about their closest rivals. It simply wouldn’t be tolerated.

Consequently La Liga, for me, sits at #3 or #4 among top Leagues in the world. You can’t be considered to be the best without top class competition week in, week out and this game no longer heads that category.