by Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Catalans surpass feisty Clasico after Franck Kessie forced Eder Militao’s first-half own goal in Copa del Rey semi-final first leg – as Xavi’s side bounce back from consecutive defeats
Xavi’s Barcelona are 90 minutes away from the Copa del Rey final after a shock 1-0 first-leg victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
The build-up was masked by negativity, mostly emanating from Barcelona after two consecutive defeats and a string of crucial injuries, but they won 1-0 in what is their unlikely trademark this season, already having seven in the league.
They played at the Santiago Bernabeu and once again made great saves with Ronald Araujo for Vincius, who scored another yellow goal, got into a match against Gavi, but never looked like he would increase his goal this season.
Barcelona have won nine of their last 15 matches at the Santiago Bernabeu, and that was as unique as it was unexpected as Real Madrid failed to score a single shot on target.
Madrid started the match as overwhelming favourites, as Barcelona were without their top three scorers Roberto Lewandowski, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele, but it was the Real Madrid player who gave Xavi’s side the lead in the 26th minute.
Barcelona took the lead with an Eder Militao own goal after a long VAR check
The opening goal came past Militao and Nacho after a sloppy back pass by Eduardo Camavinga
He slipped in to Franck Kessi and when Thibaut Courtois saved his shot, he parried it straight at Eder Militao, who couldn’t help but cross the line.
Madrid failed to get a decent shot on target in the first half with Araujo kryptonite for Madrid’s Superman Vinicius.
The Uruguayan defender now has a 9-1 aggregate against the Brazilian in four games against him.
Earlier in the season, Madrid beat Barcelona in their first league game but without Araujo in their squad.
After Vinicius was canceled by the Uruguayan, they were limited to one shot from Luka Modric and Barcelona were able to absorb the pressure and threaten a break.
Ferran Torres almost doubled the lead with 20 minutes left, simply missing the end of Raphinha’s cross. It was the last stop from the former Leeds winger as Xavi lunged at Ansu Fati.
The Blaugrana put on a solid and decisive defensive performance on Thursday night in Madrid
Vinicius had been penalized earlier in a draw that saw six players show a yellow card as well as Xavi
Karim Benzema was often pushed out when Real Madrid went goalless to show their ball possession dominance
Carlo Ancelotti’s side must now head to their arch-rivals in pursuit of score to stay in the competition
Referee Luis Munuera Montero had a busy night leading a full-blooded clash between the two rivals
The substitution almost had the desired effect, but when Torres crossed from the right and Kessie hit the target, he hit Fati and went far.
Had he been able to get out of the way, he would have gone in, but he blocked what would have been an important second goal.
Madrid will now still feel like they’re in when the replay is played in a month’s time. But that wasn’t the first step.
Barcelona tore up the script with Araujo’s master class in the back and Kessie who turned out to be the winner.
