MADRID, April 27 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola refused to take the bait thrown down by Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho after watching his side defeat Madrid 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal in Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Two goals from Leo Messi in the last 15 minutes of the game gave Barca a huge advantage to take to their Camp Nou stadium for next Tuesday's second leg.
Mourinho complained bitterly about the performance of referee Wolfgang stark, who sent off Madrid midfielder Pepe with a direct red card and then sent off the coach for his complaints.
Mourinho used his press conference to imply Barcelona had influence in UEFA and said he would feel embarrassed to have won the title Barca won two years ago and to have won Wednesday night's game.
Guardiola refused to comment of Mourinho's words, preferring to focus on the action in what was a tense and fractious affair in Madrid.
"We played a good game. We controlled their counter attacks completely and the team was much more aggressive with Seydou Keita helping to combat Madrid's strength in the air. I have to congratulate my team," said Guardiola, who had special words for Messi.
"We have to highlight the luck that we have with Messi, at just 23 years old he has become the third highest scorer in the history of Barcelona. It is incredible, that is the great thing about our football and the way we play," he said
Despite the 2-0 lead, Guardiola refused to accept his side was already in the Champions League final.
"Real Madrid will give nothing up for lost," he said.
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