AS IT HAPPENED

Eder Militao own goal hands Barcelona first leg advantage vs Real Madrid in Copa Del Rey semi-final

David Ben 23:11 - 02 March 2023

LaLiga Game week 25 betting tips, odds and accumulator

El Clasico: Barcelona recorded a hard-fought victory against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

And that's it for our coverage for tonight. We will be back again tomorrow for live coverage of this weekend's opening games in the Serie A and Bundesliga.

FT Thoughts( REAL MADRID 0-1 BARCELONA): Xavi's Barcelona has now handed Real Madrid their first home defeat in 11 months. The Blaugrana were solid defensively on the night but still have all to play for in the second leg at the Spotify Camp Nou on April 5.
Barcelona will be hoping to welcome back some key stars for the second-leg clash while Real Madrid will certainly be without Vinicius Jnr who picked up a Yellow Card in this tie - the Brazilian will be suspended for the second leg.
In all, Barcelona overcake the odds to defeat Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid team. The Blaugrana will be hoping to continue their run at the top of the LaLIga summit while the Los overcamecosncos look to apply pressure on their eternal rivals. #ElClasico

Xavi: "Madrid did not create a single clear chance."

Xavi: "I'm satisfied with the result, but not with our match. We can't let our rival take the ball away from us."

Barcelona coach Xavi impressed after El Clasico win in Copa del Rey

Xavi on Barcelona's win: "We have an advantage for the second leg, but we still have to compete very well. I think Real Madrid are very strong, and I still see them as the favorites."

✅ Most clean sheets in Europe's top 5 leagues this season [17 in 23]

✅ Most clean sheets for Barcelona in El Clasico history [5]

Marc-Andre ter-Stegen deserves more respect 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ojr4X3768Y
— GiveMeSport (@GiveMeSport) March 2, 2023

Luka Modric El Clasico career highlights🇭🇷| The invisible man?🤔| 'Magician' dissapearing🥶 pic.twitter.com/uBRUYDVG0M
— Madrid Zone (@LM10_BLAUGRANA) March 2, 2023

Sergio Busquets is now the player with most wins in El Clásico history - 22, going past Paco Gento's 21.

Busquets also became the player with most appearances in El Clásico history earlier today - 46, going past Messi and Ramos' 45.

Legend. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GgW7oWwErZ
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) March 2, 2023

The goal!#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/xVCXfdL9UJ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

Ter stegen keeps his 6th clean sheet in El Clasico, equaling Casillas.

MAtS is now one clean sheet away from equaling the all-time record, belonging to Victor Valdes. pic.twitter.com/gSil4WTr1P
— adil (@Barca19stats) March 2, 2023

#ELCLÁSICO

Araujo is the best defender in the world Barcelona is very lucky to have the best and greatest defender in history❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/8gq7scsAbp
— Leo Messi (@Messi_10_30) March 2, 2023

Real Madrid collects from their master, FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabèu💀in #ElClasico . Credits to Franck Kessie👏🤌💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/f9Tm0GB1dL
— Skye (@_skye1) March 2, 2023

We were actually so spoilt with the 2010s Clasico’s, don’t want to do the cliché “El Clasico has fallen off” but the level of quality and also the stakes/individual rivalries just felt so much more intense during that period
— TS🍇🇧🇷 (@TrujistaSancho) March 2, 2023

There's no rivalry like El Clasico 😤 pic.twitter.com/kcRMWN2sMK
— GOAL (@goal) March 2, 2023

People tried to write off Jules Koundé because of two bad games just for him to drop a 10/10 in El Clasico at the Bernabeu. My defender pic.twitter.com/VILZUYeXzj
— H (@hazfcb_) March 2, 2023

Federico Valverde was shown the 800th card in the history of El Clásico, after being booked 🥵🟨 pic.twitter.com/BZqvoUCpnO
— 433 (@433) March 2, 2023

Real Madrid's last 10 #ElClasico's played at the Santiago Bernabéu: WLLLWWLWLL

Real Madrid's last 10 #ElClasico's played at the Camp Nou: WDWDLDDWWW

What home advantage? 🫣 pic.twitter.com/yjGyNwJVsR
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 2, 2023

Advantage, @FCBarcelona 🔼🇪🇸#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/5mE77WDrHI
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 2, 2023

Social Media Reactions to follow....

🏁 FT: @realmadriden 0-1 @FCBarcelona
⚽ Militão 27' (og)#CopaDelRey | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/smcB9dmToF
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

FULL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! #ELCLÁSICO pic.twitter.com/EsL89Qmo1n
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

FULL TIME!! REAL MADRID 0-1 FC BARCELONA. No longer aa scoreline but a result and it's a victory for FC Barcelona in the forst leg if the Copa del Rey semifinals.

90+5' Madrid throwing all their attack at Barcelona but still, still, Barcelona stand strong and hack it away. #ElClasico

90+5' Last chance saloon for Real Madrid now. Barcelona can smell victory now surely. #ElClasico

90+2' Real Madrid are still trailing here and have three minutes to salvage something from this encounter. #ElClasico

90' There will be five minutes of added time here. And oh guess what... Xavi Hernandez has just been shown a Yellow Card for dissent. Interesting.

90' CHANCE! Real Madrid: Rodrygo sees his effort go just wide and out for a goalkick to Barcelona. #ElClasico

90' A series of attempts by Real Madrid is repelled by the hardworking Barcelona defence.

🔄 Substitution:

↑🟢 Sergi Roberto
↓🔴 Franck Kessie
#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/BvPq4X5E3b
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

85' SUBSTITUTION: Frank Kessie is withdrawn for Sergi Roberto. Xavi wants to protect this lead. #ElClasico

84' Barcelona are just taking their time, winning second ballas and waiting to strike on the counter. Madrid have at least six minutes to respond until the 90 minute mark. #ElClasico

Kessie nearly made it 2-0 for Barcelona but Ansu Fati couldn't get out of the way 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JbbyiFxGTw
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 2, 2023

Franck Kessié couldn't believe Ansu Fati blocked his chance to make it 2-0 😲 pic.twitter.com/m9QLkjtE3T
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 2, 2023

81' Into the final 10 minutes now, and Barca have looked capable of dealing with everything Madrid have to offer so far. #ElClasico.

🔄 74' | 0-1 | Substitution: @atchouameni ↔️ @ToniKroos #CopaDelRey | #HankookTire pic.twitter.com/iSyDMN1Gm6
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

74' SUBSTITUTION: Carlo Ancelotti opts for another change. Aurelien Tchouameni is coming on for Toni Kroos. Los Blancos still trying to break down this Barcelona defence. #ElClasico

73' Yellow Card(Real Madrid): Federico Valverde is booked.

72' CHANCE! Barcelona work the ball well and the final bullet strike from Kessie is blocked by his own teammate Ansu Fati. What a cahnce missed. #ElClasico

🔄 Substitution:

↑🟢 Ansu Fati
↓🔴 Raphinha
#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/SUH3l48KEl
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

69' SUBSTITUTION: Raphinha is going off after another mild stinker. He's looked literally lost all game. Ansu Fati is replacing him. #ElClasico

67' Yellow Card(Barcelona): Franck Kessie leaves his hands in Dani Carvajal's face while trying to get past the Real Madrid defender. Needless from Kessie. Barca still lead 1-0 so far. #ElClasico

🔄 67' | 0-1 | Substitution: @RodrygoGoes ↔️ @nachofi1990 #CopaDelRey | #HankookTire pic.twitter.com/RnlnmVUjCH
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

Ronald Araujo #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/79aVwtQEt0
— Barca HQ (@HQPbarca) March 2, 2023

57' Real Madrid are all over Barcelona right now. They have looked the better side in the second half so far. You feel it's only a matter of time before the hosts score. Barca are now very conservative and look happy to defend. #ElClasico

52' Eduardo Camavinga's shot is wide and out for a goal kick. Carlo Ancelotti looking clam as ever on the touchline....as you would expect. But Real Madrid are asking the questions now. #ElClasico

50' Yellow Card to Barcelona: Gavi is booked for pushing Vinicius. The visitors need not lose their heads now. #ElClasico

48' Great block by Ronald Araujo to divert a Vinicius Jnr strike out for a corner. Madrid coming close just three minutes into the restart. #ElClasico

2️⃣ We are back for the second half. VAMOS! 💪
▶️ @realmadriden 0-1 @FCBarcelona
🖥️ https://t.co/yBugHpxAEr #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/HrP9kme6Ob
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

SECOND HALF Underway: It's still Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona. How will the hosts respond. Still 45 minutes to play for at the Santiagi Bernabeu. #ElClasico

1 - The team to score first in #ElClásico won 14 of the last 16 such games (D2), with @FCBarcelona 🔵🔴 winning the last come-back in this game in @LaLigaEn in April 2017 (2-3 at Santiago Bernabéu). Challenge. pic.twitter.com/PWWalWJgyK
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 2, 2023

It's getting heated 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/btAz6xsppT
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 2, 2023

🚨 HALFTIME IN MADRID!

0️⃣ Real Madrid
1️⃣ Barça #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/xj49EEbeVs
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

⏸️ HT: @realmadriden 0-1 @FCBarcelona
⚽ Militão 27' (og)#CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/trZtd1mPhs
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

HT Thoughts: Franck Kessie forced an own goal from Eder Militao to give the Blaugrana the half-time lead at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, since the goal, the hosts have responded well and may be gutted not to get a goal before the break. #ElClasico

HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 0-1 BARCELONA

45' The fourth official shows two minutes of added time here. The visitors still lead. #ElClasico

42' Real Madrid really stretching Barcelona on the pitch here. It's chance after chance in the closing stages of the first half. Los Blancos just lacking that cutting edge in the final third. #ElClasico

41' CHANCE! Real Madrid: Dani Carvajal can get his volley on target under no real pressure. Madrid nearly levelling matters there. #ElClasico

38' Barcelona have found their feet here. They just nearly created another great chance. You get the feeling that goal has given Xavi's men a little more confidence. #ElClasico

3 - Éder Militao own goal is the fourth scored this way in #ElClasico in the 21st century, all of them on the road, and three for @FCBarcelona 🔵🔴: Iván Helguera in May 2002 in Champions League, Raphael Varane in February 2019 in #CopaDelRey and today. Setback. pic.twitter.com/jPnBvVnApa
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 2, 2023

32 minutes played here and Real Madrid look to respond immediately. The chances keep coming. #ElClasico

⚽'Il Presidente' Kessie ! #ElClasico (0-1) pic.twitter.com/8SkIEivmJW
— FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_fra) March 2, 2023

⚽️ 27' | 0-1 | Goal by Kessié.#CopaDelRey
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

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0-1! #ElClásico
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

GOALL!!! REAL MADRID 0-1BARCELONA: Franck Kessie forces an own goal from Eder Militao to open the scoring for the visitors in their first shot on target. #ElClasico

25 minutes gone, and both sides still battle at the Bernabeu. Who will open the scoring tonight? #ElClasico

🚨 Sergio Busquets surpasses Leo Messi and Sergio Ramos to become the player with the most #ElClásico appearances in history! Congratulations, Sergio! pic.twitter.com/EXFgbgtCZu
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 2, 2023

20 minutes played and no goals to tell yet. Real Madrid have had 3 shots so far, none on target as compared to the visitors who have had absolutely none. #ElClasico

KICK OFF!! And we're underway at the Santiago Bernabeu. #ElClasico

Barcelona, on the other hand, are missing key absentees including Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Christensen and even Ousmane Dembele, with Xavi having to rely on Ferran Torres, Raphinah and Gavi in attack. #ElClasico

📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜 🆚 @FCBarcelona! #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/KC7uBepbAQ
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 2, 2023

Here's how both teams line up, starting with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid face a depleted Barcelona team in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. With the usual pride and bragging rights at stake, Xavi and Carlo Ancelotti will both be hoping for wins tonight.