Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid, 2012 El Clasico: Referee Misses Penalties At Both Ends

Read More: Alexis Sánchez (F - Chile), Iker Casillas (GOALKEEPER - Spain), Carles Puyol (DEFENDER - Spain), Jose Pinto (GOALKEEPER - Barcelona), Karim Benzema (F - France), Barcelona, Real Madrid

There probably should have been penalties on both ends of the pitch in a crazy few minutes. Alexis Sanchez, who's been relatively quiet in Barcelona's front three, was looking to pull off a shot against Iker Casillas's goal before he was barged off the ball by Pepe and sent flying off the pitch. Within thirty seconds, the same happened to Madrid as Carles Puyol shoulder-barged Karim Benzema off the ball as he was about to pull the trigger against Jose Pinto. Neither challenge got any of the ball, but neither penalty was given. Oops.

Both players, incidentally, were hurt in those incidents. Benzema's got no choice but to soldier on because Madrid have already used all three subs, but Pep Guardiola yanks Sanchez off for Javier Mascherano, a defensive substitution designed to hold the lead. There're ten minutes left - can Madrid pull off a historic comeback?

For more on the two teams, check out Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid and FC Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. We have live coverage of the match in our Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 2012 El Clasico StoryStream.