Real hold off Barca to reach Champions League final

Real Madrid saw off a furious second-half fightback from Barcelona to clinch a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and move through to the Champions League final on a 3-1 aggregate.

The eight times European Cup winners, leading 2-0 from the first leg, were put under intense pressure in the second half after an Ivan Helguera own goal in the 48th minute had equalised Raul's opener two minutes before the break.

Barca had plenty of chances in a game that went ahead despite a car bomb blast opposite the ground four hours before kickoff but Real stayed firm and they will go on to play what will be their 12th European Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen at Glasgow's Hampden Park on May 15.

"We had to suffer a lot and it was very hard work," Raul told Spanish state television after the game. "We knew it would be hard work, but thanks to the support of the home crowd we got through."

The Spanish international striker said he was now looking forward to an exciting final against Leverkusen.

"Bayer deserved to make the final as they showed they were superior to Manchester United. They have some very dangerous players up front and I am sure it will be a great final."

Barcelona, just as they had in the first leg at the Nou Camp, enjoyed most of the early possession.

With Brazilian forward Rivaldo once again missing with a knee injury, they were deprived of their most likely route to goal and Real were only really threatened by a series of freekicks from Xavi that were nervously cleared.

On the rare occasions Real managed to move forward they did so with menace and on 20 minutes Zinedine Zidane almost got a goal, taking a flat pass from the left and drifting a first-time shot just over.

Guti then saw his shot blocked at the near post by Roberto Bonano after Figo's neat ball had created the chance.

Barca came within a whisker of scoring on 39 minutes when Fabio Rochemback struck from right. Cocu slid in to deflect the ball on to a post and Patrick Kluivert was denied a simple rebound chance by Michel Salgado and Cesar, the keeper getting a face full of studs for his trouble.

PRECISE SHOT

Real finally opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. Zidane and Raul between them dispossessed the Barca playmaker Xavi and Raul strode to the edge of the box to smack a precise left-footed shot past Bonano.

Real fans reacted with loud chants to a flare apparently thrown from a small section of Barcelona supporters but they were silenced by Barcelona's equaliser just after the break.

Helguera's unfortunate intervention left Barca needing to score twice to win on the away goals rule and that looked a distinct possibility as they poured forward, inspired by substitute Marc Overmars.

The Catalans were almost in front on the night when Abelardo's meaty header from a right-wing corner sailed just over and Real continued to look vulnerable as they lost possession time and again.

Kluivert showed remarkable skill to turn on the edge of the box but his shot was blasted well over.

Luis Enrique was almost rewarded for a supreme effort on the night when he fired in a shot from inside the box only to see it glance wide.

Geovanni scooped over the bar when he seemed certain to score as the visitors were once again denied by their own poor finishing.

The 75,000 crowd, undeterred by the pre-match blast, were getting nervous but with Barca failing to turn their chances into goals they were able to celebrate a victory that keeps Real on course for a ninth European Cup win in their centenary season.

A total of 17 people were treated for shock or slight injuries after the car bomb blast.