Highlights:
- Barcelona secures a 1-0 win against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, with Eder Militao scoring an own goal.
- Real Madrid failed to register a single shot on target despite enjoying 65% of ball possession.
- The two teams will face each other again on April 5th in Barcelona for the return leg of the semi-final, with the winner advancing to the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao or Osasuna.
In the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 victory against their rivals, Real Madrid. The solitary goal of the match came from an unexpected source, as Brazilian defender Eder Militao inadvertently scored an own goal. This win marks the first of the three highly anticipated matches between these two Spanish football giants, scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
The next encounter between Barcelona and Real Madrid is scheduled to take place on March 19th in Barcelona, where they will face off in a La Liga match. After that, they will meet again on April 5th, this time in the return leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Fans and football enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating these clashes between two of the biggest and most historic football clubs in the world.
?️ XAVI: "We didn't concede any chances." #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/pAZrcWcy0h
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 3, 2023
In the 26th minute, Barcelona broke the deadlock when Ferran Torres intercepted Eduardo Camavinga’s pass and quickly fed the ball to Frank Kessie. The Ivorian fired a close-range shot which was brilliantly saved by Thibaut Courtois, but unfortunately for Real Madrid, Eder Militao’s attempted clearance hit him and deflected into his own net, giving Barcelona the lead.
Barcelona had an opportunity to extend their lead in the 71st minute when Kessie’s shot was blocked by his own teammate, Ansu Fati. Rodrygo, the Brazilian winger who came on as a substitute for Real Madrid, created the hosts’ best chance of the game but narrowly missed the target with a long-range shot.
Despite enjoying 65% of ball possession, Real Madrid failed to register a single shot on target, which is a surprising statistic considering their attacking prowess.
In the end, Barcelona’s goal in the first half, courtesy of Militao’s unfortunate own goal, proved to be enough for them to secure a victory over their arch-rivals in the match.
Following the match, Barcelona coach Xavi expressed his satisfaction with the result but admitted that he was not pleased with their overall performance. He further acknowledged that Real Madrid remains the favoured team to progress to the next round of the competition.
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Xavi also highlighted the importance of playing at home in the return leg, with the support of their fans. Despite this advantage, he believes that Real Madrid is still the favored team to advance to the next round.
The two teams will face each other again on April 5th in Barcelona, and the winner of this semi-final match will advance to the Copa del Rey final, where they will face either Athletic Bilbao or Osasuna.