Real Madrid vs Barcelona result, highlights and analysis as Xavi claims Copa del Rey advantage in semifinal win
Barcelona secured an important advantage in the Copa del Rey as Xavi’s side won 1-0 at Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg.
The Catalans lead Los Blancos in the La Liga title race by seven points and take a crucial lead back to the Camp Nou for the second leg on April 5.
Both sides battled for chances that night, with Real Madrid failing to score a single shot on target while Barcelona enjoyed a lucky first-half breakthrough.
Eder Militao deflected Franck Kessie’s deflected shot into his own net and Barcelona’s renewed defense held firm in the second half.
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Final score between Real Madrid and Barcelona
| 1H | 2H | final | |
| real Madrid | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Goals:
Militao (OG) — BAR — 27 mins
Confirmed Lineups:
Real Madrid XI (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) – Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho – Modric, Camavinga, Kroos – Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Real Madrid replacement: Lunin (TW), Lopez (TW), Vazquez, Vallejo, Odriozola, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Hazard, Diaz, Rodriguez, Asensio, Rodrygo
Barcelona XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen (GK) – Kounde, Araujo, Alonso, Balde – Kessie, Busquets, de Jong – Raphinha, Torres, Gavi
Barcelona Submarines: Pena (TG), Tenas (TG), Roberto, Christensen, Alba, Garcia, Torre, Alarcon, Fati, Estanis
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Real Madrid vs Barcelona as happened in the Copa del Rey semifinals
FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 0 BARCELONA 1
It is ALL in Madrid, and Barcelona are ahead of the second leg in the Copa del Rey thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
A bizarre own goal is the difference between the two teams tonight and Real Madrid need a comeback win at the Camp Nou to secure their first Copa del Rey final since 2014.
90+3 minutes: Xavi’s antics earn him a caution and the Spaniard will need to be careful as he’s already serving a sideline suspension in this weekend’s La Liga clash against Valencia.
90 mins: Added five minutes……..aa BIG chance for Rodrygo!!
The Brazilian worked an angle on the edge of the box but Ter Stegen shot wide of the post.
86 minutes: Last weekend’s hero is AT for Real Madrid!!
Alvaro Rodriguez scored his first-ever goal for Los Blancos from the bench, salvaging a point against Atletico Madrid. Can he save her tonight?
83 minutes: Barcelona will be stuck here… as Real Madrid haven’t offered anything… except for Ancelotti’s side LOVE a late goal!!
76 minutes: WHAT A CHANCE TO MAKE IT 2-0!!
Gavi does well to pull a cross back across the box for Kessie as the pair reunite but the Ivorian’s shot on goal is blocked by Fati!!
*Video available in the US
A disappointment for Real Madrid!!
73 minutes: A chance from a corner but Gavi’s header goes wide, Aurelien Tchouameni replacing Toni Kroos.
70 minutes: Ancelotti and Xavi make their first substitutions of the night as the two injury doubts come into play before kick-off. Fati replaces Raphinha and Rodrygo replaces Nacho.
65 minutes: A real pattern is now emerging here as Barcelona frustrate Madrid and pile the yellow cards as Kessie catches Carvajal with a stray arm.
60 minutes: Some alert Marcos Alonso defenders blocked Benzema in the box and still no attempts from the hosts when we hit the hour mark.
55 minutes: Camavinga is the next player to try his luck from distance………but again he flies over the top.
Another warning as Nacho brings down Raphinha and frustration mounts at Real Madrid.
50 minutes: A brilliant start to the second half for the hosts as Ter Stegen is forced to deny Vini Jr’s shot. Gavi receives a warning because the referee is fed up with his constant fouls.
46 minutes: WE ARE BACK!!
No changes at half-time but can Real Madrid come up with an answer?
HALFTIME: REAL MADRID – BARCELONA 1
Barcelona came out on top at half-time in unconventional Madrid circumstances as Militao’s odd own goal puts Xavi’s side ahead.
Los Blancos will try to recover in the second half but they are yet to register a shot on target tonight, with Barcelona comfortably hitting them on the counterattack.
45 minutes: Two minutes extra as Raphinha goes in the referee’s book for sustained fouls.
40 minutes: Another half-chance for Real Madrid as Dani Carvajal goes in for a cross to the back post…but his volley goes miles over the top…the hosts needed Benzema!
35 minutes: Modric slices inside and shoots wide as Barca counter at the other end and Gavi drags a shot past the far post……..that was a chance for the teenager!!
27 mins: GOALLLLLLLLLLLL – BARCA LEADS
Out of NOWHERE Barca lead 1-0……in BIZARRE style
Franck Kessie rushed past Real Madrid defence, but when his shot is blocked by Thibaut Courtois, the retreating Militao deflects it into his own net!!!
*Video available in the US
A quick VAR check………under construction for a possible foul by Kessie…..all clear and Barca are ahead!!!
*Video available in UK
25 minutes: The first yellow card of the evening………it’s coming!!
Frenkie de Jong and Vini Jr’s become entangled in a WWE-style fight in midfield, but the Brazilian pulls the Dutchman down and concedes a caution.
He is NOT happy about it!
*Video available in the US
20 minutes: Barcelona weathered that early storm of pressure, with Gavi winning a foul from Eder Militao to ease the pressure.
15 minutes: Karim Benzema has the ball in the back of the Barcelona net as he nods home a cross from Vini Jr, but the Frenchman was narrowly ruled offside.
Real Madrid’s deadly duo come again, however, as Benzema forces a corner and a driven cross from Vini Jr is grabbed by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
10 mins: A frantic start at both ends here in Madrid as Vinicius Jr slaloms past Ronald Araujo but shoots into the side netting and Nacho does well to recover and fend off Raphinha on the counterattack.
1 minute: Almost an instant chance for Los Blancos as Luka Modric rushes into goal and shoots wide… but the offside flag is against the Croatian.
WE ARE OUT!!! – REAL MADRID VS BARCELONA
10 minutes after kick-off: How decisive will the Pedri factor be tonight?
Barcelona will be without key star Pedri tonight as La Blaugrana’s engine room struggles in the 20-year-old’s absence.
20 minutes after kick-off: Sergio Busquets faces a record-breaking night as the Barcelona captain overtakes Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos as the best El Clasico performer ever.
40 minutes after kick-off: Barcelona’s last Copa del Rey El Clasico clash with Real Madrid came in the 2018/19 semi-finals. A 1-1 first-leg draw at Camp Now had the tie on the verge of a knife-edge before Luis Suarez guided the Catalans to victory in Madrid.
1h10 after kick-off: Barca team news is IN
Xavi is bold in his changes after the weekend’s loss to Almeria, with an all-new defense for the visitors, as Marcos Alonso, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo And Alejandro Balde all begin.
The big news, however, is Ansu Fatis Recovery from injury as the Spain international sits on the bench.
1hr 30mins after kick-off: Real Madrid strikes again with the unveiling of the early team news
Ancelotti is ready for his old tricks with his early confirmation of his starting XI for tonight’s clash with two changes from last weekend’s 1-1 La Liga derby draw against Atletico Madrid.
Luke Modric And Eduardo Camavinga both come into midfield, off Tony Krooswith Fede Valverde pushed forward and Marco Asensio And Daniel Ceballos drop on the bench.
2 hours after kick-off: The stage is set for a crucial night at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid vs Barcelona confirmed lineups
Carlo Ancelotti is still without a defensive pair David Alaba And Ferland Mendy with the Brazilian international Rodrygo on the bench.
However, the Italian will rotate his options Luke Modric And Eduardo Camavinga set to begin with Fede Valverde push further forward, into the attack.
Real Madrid confirm XI (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) – Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho – Modric, Camavinga, Kroos – Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Real Madrid replacement: Lunin (TW), Lopez (TW), Vazquez, Vallejo, Odriozola, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Hazard, Diaz, Rodriguez, Asensio, Rodrygo
Xavi’s plans have been hampered by the absence of the star striker Robert Lewandowski due to a thigh strain, with Pedri, Ousmane Dembele off, but Ansu Fati is fit enough to make the bench.
Barcelona confirm XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen (GK) – Kounde, Araujo, Alonso, Balde – Kessie, Busquets, de Jong – Raphinha, Torres, Gavi
Barcelona Submarines: Pena (TW), Tenas (TW), Roberto, Garcia, Christensen, Alba Torre, Alarcon, Fati, Estanis
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Live Stream, TV Channels
Here’s how you can follow all the action of this game in some of the most important areas:
| TV channel | stream | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | — | ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | — |
| United Kingdom | BT sport 1 | BT Sport app/website |
| Australia | — | — |
| New Zealand | — | — |
| India | — | — |
| Hong Kong | — | — |
| Malaysia | — |
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| Singapore | — | — |
UNITED KINGDOM: This game is available to fans in the UK via BT Sport TV and streaming services
UNITED STATES: This game will be streamed on the ESPN+ subscriber platform in English and Spanish.
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