"Worst game I have watched in my life" , "Ancelotti is the problem" - Twitter erupts as Barcelona end Real Madrid's 11-month home unbeaten run
Barcelona took the upper hand in their Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid with a 1-0 win in the first leg on Thursday (March 2). Los Blancos defender Eder Militao's 26th-minute own goal proved decisive at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti's side thought they had grabbed the opener in the 12th minute. Madrid pounced on a poor pass from Frenkie de Jong, with Vinicius Junior playing a superb ball to Karim Benzema. The French striker found the back of the net but was later deemed offside.
Barcelona took the lead in the 26th minute through Militao's own goal. Franck Kessie's shot was saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but deflected in off his Brazilian teammate. VAR checked to see if Raphinha had interfered with play from an offside position, but he hadn't and the goal was given. Ancelotti looked glum on the touchline as his team's woes continued.
Madrid's best opportunity of the first half fell to Dani Carvajal. The Spanish right-back sent a volley high over Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen's goal. However, he should have done much better with his effort.
The Blaugrana nearly extended their lead in the 72nd minute when Kessie struck at goal. However, his own teammate Ansu Fati was in the way of his shot that seemed certain to be heading in. Rodrygo went close in the 89th minute after sending a brilliant strike towards Ter Stegen's goal. It sailed just wide of the German shot-stopper's top right corner.
It was Barcelona who took the spoils at the Bernabeu between the two El Clasico rivals. They are in pole position to advance to the Copa del Rey final after beating Los Merengues on their home turf.
Real Madrid fans were furious with the team's performance as they suffered their first home defeat in 11 months. One fan insisted that Ancelotti is the issue. He tweeted:
"Ancelotti is the problem."
Meanwhile, one fan was left frustrated by the El Clasico clash, tweeting:
"Worst game i ever watched in my life."
Here's how Twitter reacted to a lackluster derby between Los Blancos and the Blaugrana that handed Xavi's side the initiative in their Copa del Rey semifinal:
@FCBarcelona Who is Madrid? Barcelona is here, thats absolutley was training for us in bernabeu😂😂😂 https://t.co/S91tFcev1j
@TheEuropeanLad How did Barca win with that line up 😭
@TheEuropeanLad Most boring El Classico of all time
@ReshadRahman_ Haramball complete
@ReshadRahman_ simeone ball in fcb style
@MadridXtra Ancelotti has to go in the summer terrible game
@MadridXtra Worst game i ever watched in my life.
Ancelotti is the problem
ANCELOTTI OUT
These real madrid did still win that line up....I thought were going to pipe us 4-0.....fucking clowns they still our bitches
@theMadridZone Ancelotti vs Barcelona is the worst manager in the world
Electric performance from Benzema… until the 15th minute 👀 https://t.co/Uxp9Aa5wUh
@FCBarcelona We really won this Madrid super team away at the bernabeu with our B team https://t.co/pYHyEKbrK4
@FCBarcelona We are Barca.We can win against Real madrid without our key players like Lewandowski,Dembele,Pedri and Christensen.Barca is the best team in the world 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️ https://t.co/a6mXYL3p5V
Real Madrid spent over €700m on the renovations of Barca's training ground https://t.co/8b4inLJTAL
Real Madrid had ZERO shots on target tonight.
🚨 Real Madrid had ZERO shots on target tonight. https://t.co/UpKrAspXcy
Barcelona may have a 100 problems but beating Madrid ain't one of them https://t.co/N9VWYLs2d5
@FCBarcelona regardless of our bad performance araújo still managed to put his son in his pocket https://t.co/OydWhLzPjU
@FCBarcelona Barca owns Vardrid.
0 shots on target against our B Team 😭 https://t.co/IqHgxJnKES
@FCBarcelona We actually beat Madrid playing like Madrid, crazy
@FCBarcelona Super De youngman👏👏 https://t.co/4YFoBJglOR
@FCBarcelona 2nd Leg with Lewa, Pedri & Dembele Back https://t.co/6MqovgyjPR
@realmadriden @FCBarcelona Referee was Barca's 12th man🤡
@realmadriden @FCBarcelona Náà it's just really poor and disgraceful now..
If there was ever a great time to beat Barca, this was it, they had players out, they had low morale from Loosing matches in a row & being knocked out of Europe, yet we can't even get a point much less beat them! It's terrible 😑
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski could return for the second leg against Real Madrid
Barcelona beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu without three of their key players. Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Ousmane Dembele all missed the trip to their El Clasico rivals on Thursday through injury.
Lewandowski was ruled out of the El Clasico encounter with a left hamstring injury. He has been in superb form since arriving from Bayern Munich last summer, scoring 25 goals in 31 games.
However, SPORT's Ivan San Antonio reports that Lewandowski could return for the Catalan giants' clash with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (March 12). This would mean the Polish frontman would be available for the second leg against Real Madrid.
The two sides will clash at the Nou Camp on March 19, with a place in the Copa del Rey final at stake. Lewandowski's potential return will be a huge boost for Xavi's side.