Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: summary: score, goals, highlights, Copa del Rey semi-final
Real Madrid - Barcelona: Copa del Rey semi-final, as it happened
And here's something on Gavi, the freak of nature that I can't believe even exists within this Barcelona side.
(Fiery) post-match manager reaction:
Ancelotti: "Barcelona didn't deserve to win, it was obvious"
Xavi: "Madrid are still the favourites"
Check out every word the two coaches had to say after the game:
Plenty to play for in both legs in April.
Barcelona may be able to count on the return of key players such as Lewandowski, Pedri and Dembele.
An important win for Xavi's side and proof that they can dig in and are adept at a different style of play.
The own goal from Militao the difference between the sides with the tie to be decided in April at Camp Nou.
Cheers for tuning in tonight and catch you all soon.
The midfielder has surpassed Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos as the player with the most appearances in football’s biggest fixture.
Copa del Rey dates for the diary
4 April: Second leg between Athletic and Osasuna at San Mames with the side from Pamplona holding a 1-0 lead
5 April: Barça and Real Madrid’s return leg is to be held at the Camp Nou.
6 May: The final of the 2022/23 Copa del Rey is to be played on the sixth of May at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville.
So, after the first leg of both semifinals, Osasuna and FC Barcelona hold slight advantages over Athletic Club and Real Madrid with both sides recording 1-0 first leg wins. The win for Xavi's side does cary that added weight of it being away from home.
FT: Real Madrid 0-1 FC Barcelona
Corner for Madrid. Final throw of the dice now....
Final 30 seconds and it's looking like advantage FC Barcelona after the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Ter Stegen reaches to intercept a cross an collides with Alvaro and needs medical attention...
The German seems to be in decent shape and we're back underway.
Xavi awarded a yellow for a spot of back-chat.
Final minute of the 90 and Madrid still look for a way through.
Rodrygo shoots from distance and the ball goes inches wide with Ter Stegen beaten.
Best chance of the night as we'll have five minutes of time added on.
It certainly looks like it's not going to be Real Madrid's night and the side from the capital have an uphill task in early April for the second leg at Camp Nou. (5 April to be exact)
Barcelona win a corner and Kessie is switched for Sergi Roberto.
Modric off for Alvaro
(Real Madrid switch)
Less than 10' remain at the Bernabeu. Home fans getting restless ...
Alvaro Rodriguez getting ready to come on... The 19-year-old made a big impact in his recent appearances at Osasuna and especially last Saturday in bagging the draw in the Madrid derby in the 85th minute.
Still nothing to trouble Ter Stegen. This time its Militao's turn to have a shot from distance.
Into the final stretch of the game and Barcelona standing firm with their slender advantage.
Could have been 0-2 moments ago as Ansu Fati saves Real Madrid. The substitute was unable to get out of the way of Kessie's shot as it was destined for the corner of Courtois' net.
Kroos off-Tchouaméni on for Real Madrid.
Valverde carded for a foul on De Jong.
Kessie almost makes it 0-2 as the ball deflects off Ansu Fati when it seemed destined for goal.
The game opening up now and Barcelona happy to hit the home side on the break.
Twenty to go at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona sitting deep and absorbing the pressure, not a characteristic we're used to see the Catalan employ but so far so good for Xavi's men.
First time we've seen Barcelona attack as Raphinha overhits the ball into the box... the Brazilian makes way for Ansu Fati.
Changes for both teams:
Nacho off-Rodrygo
Fati set to enter the action too but Barcelona delay the substitution.
Kessie carded for a foul in Carvajal.
Shots on target after 65'
Real Madrid 0-1 FC Barcelona
100% efficiency from Xavi's men tonight.
An hour of the contest at the Bernabeu elapsed and still the Catalan side lead 0-1.
Possession:
Real Madrid 59-41 (%) FC Barcelona
Madrid looking to create space around the box but are faced with a wall of red and blue shirts as the Barcelona players are really puttung in a shift defesively.
Asensio and Rodrygo also warming up for Real Madrid.
Nacho carded.
Despite Madrid's domination and pressure, the Barcelona defence have done a sterling job tonight in keeping attacks from. finishing or forcing Madrid players to shoot from distance.
Gavi carded... the Sevilla born player giving some lip to the referee.
Vini shoots and the ball is deflected by Araujo and Madrid win an early corner.
The second half picking up where the first 45' left off with Madrid enjoying the bulk of the ball and pressure.
Tchouaméni and Ceballos warming up for Real Madrid.
Barça get the second half under way
No changes from either side at the break.
The teams are poised to make a return to the pitch.
Still a long way to go in this game and even longer way to go in the tie.
Second leg will be played in early April at Camp Nou.
HT: RM 0-1 FCB
The 27th minute Militao own goal dividing he sides after a tense but not always scintillating fist 45 minutes of Copa del Rey action.
Shot stoppers across the country and world have been invited to wear black as a tribute to one of Spain’s greatest goalkeepers.
The whistle sounds at the break... Barcelona lead 0-1
2 minutes of added time awarded.
Raphinha hauls Vini to the ground and is the second player to be carded tonight.
Madrid very much on top in terms of possession.
Ter Stegen has been the busier of the two keepers tonight but the German has dealt admirably with crosses and shots.
What a ball from Kroos and what a waste from Carvajal.
Gavi clatters into Militao and is lucky not to have been carded as he collides into the Brazilian defender.
The game has gotten scrappy and disjointed with Madrid a little rattled from the goal and Barcelona, one senses happy to have little rhythm to the contest.
Going to be a long night for referee Munuera Montero as every decision is being questioned by the fans and the players are not doing anything to help matters in protesting.
Busquets fouls Rudiger and then goes to ground clutching his face when he clearly wasn't clipped.
A goal very much against the run of play as Madrid were well on top with Barcelona finding the next from their first attack.
The game getting tense with the home fans frustrated.
Every decision that goes against Real Madrid is being roundly whistled by the Bernabeu. Ancelotti not happy with what he's seeing either and berates the fourth official.
Militao og is the verdict on the author of the goal !
That will be reviewed but it looks like Kessie was not offisde...
Gooooooool no..... offside....
Vini carded as he wrestles De Jong to the ground.
Bernabeu crowd not happy with that call !
Better from Barça as the combine well ... Madrid central players are closing down quickly and denying the visitors time on the ball.
Gavi has yet to get to grips with the game and Barcelona need his presence in the centre of the park.
Barça simply unable to retain possession !
Barcelona are playing like a team limited on confidence.
Obviously, key absences are a factor but how much impact did the Old Trafford elimination have on the Catalan side?
Benzema has the ball in the net but the flag is up straight away as the Frenchman strayed into an offside position.
Madrid well on top !
We've yet to see Raphinha or Torres get a touch with Barcelona pegged deep inside their own half.
Ten minutes elapsed at the Bernabeu and the home side have had the better start.
Just the first minute effort from Modric resembling anything like an opening.
Vinicius does well and steers the ball into the box but blazes wasteful wide with a left footed effort.
Courtois a spectator in the opening stage of the tie.
Would Barcelona settle for a draw tonight?
A tie would not be a bad result for Xavi given that the return leg takes place in a month and offers the Catalan side time to have key players such as Pedri, Lewandowski and Dembele back in action.
The Araujo-Vini Jr battle was intriguing in Riyadh for the Spanish Super Cup and expect more of the same tonight.
Madrid have flown out of the blocks with Barcelona chasing shadows in the first few minutes of the action.
Modric almost opens the scoring as the Croatian breaks into the box and rifles the ball into the side netting.
Off we go.... Madrid start the action.
The teams take to the pitch as a massive tifo from the south stand is displayed bearing a massive Real Madrid club shield.
The sides are in the tunnel.
Both in their classic colours, Real Madrid in all white and the Catalans in their 'azul-grana' shirts, navy shorts and socks.
The players are back in the dressing rooms as the Madrid anthem 'Hala Madrid' belts out from the PA system.
Less than five minutes to go to ko at the Chamartin stadium.
Work continues on the Bernabeu
The renovation work continues on the iconic stadium with the club confident that the stadium will be ready for 'normal' use come the 2023-24 season with the ground set to have a capacity of 81,000 as opposed to the current 66,000.
'Madrid are favourites'
These are not the words of a Real Madrid fan but of Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona boss).
"Madrid continue to be the favourites, regardless of [Barça's absences of Lewandowski, Pedri and Dembele], they are reigning Champions League and LaLiga champions. The Spanish Super Cup has nothing to do with it," said Xavi speaking to the media in Wednesday's pre-match press conference.
Vinicius-dependency
Carlo Ancelotti was asked if his side had an over reliance on the Brazilian winger and the Italian claimed he wasn't sure but too that type of claim as a source of praise.
El Clasico Copa weather
The early March sun has disappeared and it's a fresh night in the Spanish capital.
The fans at the Bernabeu will need to wrap up well as its afresh 7C/45F temperature with the wind blowing in from the north adding a fresher feel.
The good news is a lack of rain forecast for the duration of the Copa del Rey clash.
What is the most popular club of the two in the United States?
A study conducted in 2020 showed that the Premier League was the most popular league based on team rankings, the first and second most popular clubs came from LaLiga (guess which two).
The study revealed that Barcelona are the most popular soccer club in the US ahead of Real Madrid. No other Spanish clubs made the top 10, which contained six Premier League teams, explaining the league’s overall popularity. Similarly, there were just six LaLiga teams in the top 50, compared to 12 from the Premier League.
FC Barcelona XI
Xavi has to juggle with so many players ruled out...no Pedri, Dembele and Lewandowski with Ansu Fati and Christensen far from 100% fit.
This is how the Catalan side start tonight.
Real Madrid XI
A reminder of how Real Madrid line-up tonight as the countdown continues ahead of the 2100 CET kick-off.
A Europa League exit for Barcelona at the hands of Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow for Cules last week. The loss at Old Trafford was further compounded on Sunday by a lackluster performance at Almeria that saw the Andalusian side record their first ever win over the Catalan giants thanks to a solitary goal from Malian striker El Bilal.
Barcelona need a big performance tonight !
Real Madrid have bounced back well from their 1-0 loss at Mallorca in early February with a solid run of results in the Club World Cup (two wins and the title), a 2-5 win at Anfield along with twi LaLiga wins over Osasuna and Elche.
Madrid fans protest against Barçagate
A series of Real Madrid fans conducted a protest outside the Bernabeu earlier and showered the pavement with Laporta Euro notes as a mark of their anger with the ongoing case.
FC Barcelona XI
In the end Christensen starts on the bench with Marcos Alonso drafted in to replace the Dane. Ferran Torres and Raphinha are the striking threats for a depleted Barcelona front line.
Xavi will employ a 4-3-3 with Ferran, Gavi and the Brazilian as the frontline.
Copa del Rey: roll of honour
FC Barcelona are very much the 'kings of the cup' having lifted the trophy 31 times. Athletic Bilbao will be hoping to add to their 23 wins this year as are Real Madrid with ther 19 triumphs.
Osasuna have never lifted the Spanish Cup and only once previously reached the final when they lost to Real Betis in June 2005.
Copa del Rey wins:
31 - FC Barcelona
23 - Athletic
19 - Real Madrid
10 - Atletico Madrid
8 - Valencia...
Tonight's match official:
José Luis Munuera Montero has been nominated to oversee tonight's Cup clash at the Bernabeu.
The 39-year-old Jaen native has been overseeing top flight games in LaLiga since 2019 and has been listed as an official FIFA referee since 2019.
The referee also owns a chain of restaurants in Andalusian city of Cordoba.
Real Madrid XI
Ancelotti selects both Toni Kroos and Luka Modric with Benzema and Vinicius leading the line for Real Madrid.
Cinema style match day poster from FCB
The design team at the Catalan club have been busy in creating this 'cinema style' match day poster for tonight's Copa del Rey clash.
Copa del Rey dates for the diary
4 April: Second leg between Athletic and Osasuna at San Mames with the side from Pamplona holding a 1-0 lead
5 April: Barça and Real Madrid’s return leg is to be held at the Camp Nou.
6 May: The final of the 2022/23 Copa del Rey is to be played on the sixth of May at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville.
Copa del Rey away goals rule
RFEF ditches away goals after UEFA ruling
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which organises the Copa, scrapped the rule in February 2022, ahead of the semi-finals of last season’s edition of Spain’s major men’s domestic cup tournament.
If the scores are level after 180 minutes in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, ties now automatically move on to a 30-minute period of extra time. If the teams remain level at the end of the additional half an hour, the winner is decided by penalty a shoot-out.
Barcelona’s possible XI
Marcos Alonso may have to step in should Christensen fail a late fitness test with the starting side that Xavi will put out at the Santiago Bernabéu looks like it will be Ter Stegen in goal with Araújo on the right side of defence to stop Vinicius; Koundé and Christensen/Alonso in the middle with Balde on the left.
The midfield will be made up of Busquets, De Jong and Kessié; Raphinha, Gavi and Ferran at ‘9′ will make up the attacking trident.
Real Madrid’s possible XI
Ancelotti kept his cards close to his chest, not saying whether Modric and Kroos will play together, or if Camavinga or Tchouameni will in fact start.
The most probable line-up for Madrid against Barça is the following: [4-3-3
Courtois
Carvajal - Militão - Rüdiger - Nacho
Camavinga
Modric - Kroos
Valverde - Benzema - Vinícius Jr
The Bernabeu awaits
A big crowd is expected at the Chamartin stadium tonight with ongoing renovation work reducing the total capacity to 66,000 currently.
As of yesterday evening, less than 500 tickets remained on sale with a number of travelling FCB fans expected in the Spanish capital too.
RM and FCB: journey to the semi-final
Both sides joined the Copa del Rey in the round of 32 due to their involvement in the Spanish Super Cup.
Barça were pushed all the way by Intercity with an Ansu Fati extra time seeing the Catalans advance 3-4 (aet).
Ceuta were then comfortably despatched 5-0 in the Round of 16 and a Dembélé goal at Camp Nou saw Xavi's side edge past Real Sociedad with a 1-0 win to advance to the semi-final.
Real Madrid also made heavy work of beating lower league Cacereño in the Round of 32 but progressed thanks to a sold Rodrygo goal. Ancelotti's men had to dig deep and managed to turnaround a 2-0 deficit away to Villarreal as they won out 2-3 thanks to a big second half performance.
A Madrid derby in the quarterfinals saw the side from the Bernabeu come from behind again with 'Los Blancos' ultitaley beinting Atleti 3-1 to progress to the semi-final stage.
Both teams go into tonight's game missing key men with David Alaba and French defender Mendy both injured for the home side.
Barcelona are also missing key personnel with influential central player Pedri still ruled out as he recovers from a thigh problem. Dembele is also out and the Catalan club yesterday confirmed that Polish striker Robert Lewandowski picked up a hamstring niggle on Sunday and will be absent for approximately a fortnight.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: last five meetings
January 2023, Super Cup: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona
October 2022, LaLiga: Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona
July 2022, Friendly: Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
March 2022, LaLiga: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona
January 2022, Super Cup: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid
The winners of the other semi-final played on Wednesday saw Osasuna beat Athletic Club by a narrow 1-0 win in Pamplona with the second leg to be staged in Bilbao in early April with the winners progressing to the May 6 final in Seville.
The action at the Santiago Bernabeu gets underway at 21:00 (local time) / 3pm (ET) 12pm (PT).
Hello and welcome to our live coverage ahead of the second semi-final of the 2022/23 Copa del Rey as Real Madrid face FC Barcelona.