Once beautiful, Barcelona have tumbled and fallen out of our affections

It was of wide opinion that the worst thing that could happen to the Champions League was Barcelona being paired with Real Madrid in the knock-out stages.

The purists had it down as the perfect final.

As the draw for the semis was made, comments I heard were 'four Clasicos in 18 days (they met in the Copa del Rey final and Primera Liga) would dilute this fantastic fixture' and 'these are the two top teams in Europe and should grace Wembley'. 

Wembley here we come: The Barcelona players celebrate their 3-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid

I was excited about the two-legged tie, more so than any other game between two sides outside the UK for a long, long time. 

But even after Barcelona deservedly progressed to Wembley, I couldn't help but feel I was mis-sold football's equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters. And it all stems from that disgraceful first leg at the Bernabeu.

I can understand games where the flow is interrupted by little fouls, made with the intention of breaking up the tempo, but what was on display that evening was blatant cheating. And sadly it prevailed. 

There were many incidents that night that could have applied to the above but none were more crucial than the sending off of Madrid's Pepe. 

Looks nasty: Dani Alves rolls around the floor after a challenge from Pepe in last week's first leg in Madrid

Yes he appears to follow through on Dani Alves with his challenge but he doesn't touch him enough to warrant the reaction from the Brazilian full-back.

Cue a load of Barcelona players hounding the referee, then the red card. 

Alves completes the move by being carried off on a stretcher to return within seconds, up and running around as before.

Who needs to work on set-pieces to score when you can work on ones to get the opposition sent off?

Before they were a man down Madrid were struggling to cope anyway, with 10 men they were lambs to the slaughter and Lionel Messi's moments of magic earned the visitors the unassailable 2-0 lead. 

But, even with a two-goal advantage, Barcelona couldn't help themselves at the Nou Camp. 

Better take the weight off that: Alves leaves the field on a stretcher - but he was sprinting back on shortly after

Javier Mascherano's constant tumbles to the ground were an embarrassment and his playacting ruled out a perfectly good Madrid goal. 

Rules state that the referee can give a foul if there is any sort of infringement and there is no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo's accidental fall did see him slightly touch the ex-Liverpool midfielder. 

But with Gonzalo Higuain in front of him ready to fire past Victor Valdes, Mascherano collapsed in a heap and won a free-kick. 

With the score 0-0 on the night, it was another pivotal moment in the tie. 

Honestly, if it was as easy to go to ground after contact as slight as that, offices and high streets up and down the country would be full of people rolling around the floor – an amusing sight come to think of it - and physios would instantly cash in. 

There were just too many separate incidents to go through them all, Real Madrid were no angels, but they all follow the same pattern in that they are trying to con the ref. 

Fall guy: Javier Mascherano (right) was quick to take a tumble as Spain's big two clashed in the Nou Camp

I know it's not new, Graeme Souness said last night that it's always been part of the game in Spain to try and influence the referee. 

You only have to look at the tough-tackling, no-nonsense midfielder Mascherano was at Liverpool to the disgrace he has become today to see that. 

But there are other reasons for my discontent. Messi once again lived up to his star billing to give a mesmerising performance in attack that underlined his status as the best in the world. 

All he needed was a goal on Tuesday to cap off a perfect showing in both legs – and it just proved that the Catalan giants do not even need to cheat to win. 

Pedro's goal at the Nou Camp is about one of the finest team efforts I have ever seen, so it just makes it all the more frustrating that Barcelona still played to win at all costs. 

Roughed up: Messi was on the receiving end of a few tasty challenges from the Madrid players

But as the greatest player in the world displayed his fine talent, without the need for diving it must be added, his huge positive contribution over both legs has been overshadowed by half-time punch-ups, simulation, alleged racism, red cards and accusations of UEFA favouritism. 

It's easy to say ignore that and just focus on Messi, but that brings me on to my next point which is the future of the game. 

We were all young once and all looked up to various figures for inspiration. 

Millions of budding young footballers around the world watched this tie and you can bet your mortgage that many will go out for their local team on Sunday morning and start to hone their simulation skills. More so, the crowding of referees too. 

Hey, if world-class centre-backs such as Carlos Puyol can lead a player revolt on the referee and get away with it, why will kids think any different? 

Ref justice: Barca skipper Carles Puyol (No 5) gets involved with the man in the middle during the first leg

Any of you who have played in a local Sunday league or even watched as a doting parent will understand how easy it is for things to get out of control at a junior match. 

Once the players lose respect for the referee, the parents quickly follow and an innocent Sunday morning kick-about turns into a free-for-all. 

It's a poison that must be eradicated from the game. But until UEFA/FIFA start to severely punish cheating and a lack of respect shown towards officials, then games of this magnitude will produce the same thing in the future and grass-roots football will continue to suffer. 

Just as well el clasico wasn't the final, Wembley can do without more negative publicity as football HQ desperately needs a classic game to try and create some history. 

Manchester United should overcome Schalke, and as a neutral I will be desperate for them to beat Barcelona in the final. 

I know Sir Alex Ferguson's men are no saints but even if it's just for this year at least, football needs Manchester United to win the Champions League by displaying a brand of football fit enough to be copied by young kids across the globe.