Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points | Copa del Rey
Barcelona drew Real Madrid for the Copa del Rey semifinals and it was expected to be a blockbuster of a game, which it was without a doubt. Barcelona started the game without their talisman Lionel Messi, who was on the bench, and their French youngster Ousmane Dembele who was ruled out due to injury.
Real Madrid on the hand started the game with Isco and Bale on the bench, with Vinicius Jr. starting the game for the Los Blancos.
Real Madrid started the game brightly as Benzema slipped Vazquez for the first goal as Real Madrid took the lead in under 10 minutes. Until the first 30 minutes, Real Madrid were attacking Barcelona with intent and it looked set that Barcelona were going to be in for a long night, but the team settled into the game and they created many worthy chances, until Malcom finished his chance in the 57th minute, when the ball rebounded off the post.
After that moment, Messi came on for an inefficient Coutinho and the game was blown wide open as Barcelona took control, but the game ended as a draw which seemed to be a fair result for both sides.
5. Real started brightly but failed to bury the chances created
Real Madrid started the game in spectacular fashion and kept Barcelona behind for the majority of the first half. They deservedly got the lead in the sixth minute via a Lucas Vazquez finish and caused trouble to the Blaugrana defense with intent.
When Barcelona got the equalizer, Real were pretty much in the back foot as they were unable to break them open on counter attacks. Gareth Bale who came on in the second half had failed to finish off the one chance he got to bury the game as Nelson Semedo put in a final ditch tackle to prevent the goal.
Failed chances like these may haunt Real Madrid in the return leg at Bernabeu as Barcelona will potentially have an in-form Ousmane Dembele who will be firing to make an impact.
Also see : Gold Cup Standings, Copa America Standings, EPL Transfer News