Advantage Barcelona in Copa del Rey after own goal by Real Madrid’s Militão
Barcelona won the first battle against their rivals Real Madrid on Thursday, picking up a 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
In the first of three matches between the Spanish powerhouses in the next few weeks, Barcelona triumphed after an own goal by the Real defender Éder Militão in the first half. The victory was a welcome boost for Xavi’s side after Europa League defeat to Manchester United and a shock La Liga loss at Almería.
The two arch-rivals will also meet in La Liga on 19 March in Barcelona before the return leg of the cup semi-final on 5 April. The winner of the semi-final will face either Osasuna or Athletic Bilbao in the final; Osasuna won Wednesday’s first leg 1-0 at home.
This was also the first match between the two sides since it became public Barcelona paid millions of euros over several years to the vice-president of Spain’s refereeing committee. A banner by Madrid fans unfurled at the Bernabéu said: “Clean and white, never tarnished.”
Barcelona took the lead in the 26th minute when Franck Kessié broke into the area from Ferran Torres’ pass after Eduardo Camavinga lost possession. Kessié’s shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois, but the ball rebounded off Militão’s leg and bounced into the net. It was initially disallowed for an offside but was then given after a video review.
The hosts thought they had opened the scoring through Karim Benzema in the 12th minute as he volleyed home, but the striker was offside. Real Madrid did not manage another shot on target as Barça stifled their hosts in a spiky contest which saw three players from each side pick up yellow cards.
Kessié came close to adding to Barcelona’s lead in the 74th minute but his shot from 12 yards out was inadvertently deflected near the goalline by his teammate Ansu Fati. Rodrygo came closest for Real with a late long-range strike that flew narrowly wide of the posts.
“We would have liked to have the ball more, to control the game a little more but we fought hard and competed in a high level,” the Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets told TVE. “They had the ball but didn’t create many chances. We got the advantage for the second leg and that’s really important.”