Barça, badly injured after falling in Manchester and Almería, took advantage of the healing effects that the Bernabeu usually provides from time to time to heal. A result was feared that would aggravate the damage to the blaugrana and the opposite happened. An own goal by Militão decided a match that brought Barça closer to the Cup final.
Guided by a great Frenkie de Jong and thanks to an unusual defensive exercise full of order and sacrifice embodied by impeccable Araújo and Koundé, Xavi’s team prevailed against a Madrid that was not very fluid, nervous and obsessed with the referee, far from the sharp and vengeful version (they fell in the Super Cup final) that was expected. The Bernabeu was lost in a continuous protest that ended up infecting its players. In fact, there was a previous demonstration in the vicinity of the Bernabeu for the Negreira case. And shouts of “Federation corruption” in the stands alluding to an alleged conspiracy against his club, all very grotesque. The return match, to be played on April 5, will decide which of the two teams goes to the final. It is to be assumed that then Barça will recover many of the troops that it could not use last night.
There is no need to fool yourself. A good part of Barcelona fans, a cyclothymic tribe where they exist, feared the Bernabeu game more than the exorcist’s girl on a bad day. Xavi’s team came from chaining two defeats, the second in Almería was especially worrying, and to top it off the team appeared decimated without essential pieces in each line: Christensen fell at the last minute due to physical problems and added to the known casualties of Pedri, Dembele and Lewandowski.
This was the theory before starting: Barça would offer certain guarantees at the back but they would barely have a threat up front with Ferran Torres and Raphinha, two forwards with prices well above their benefits.
The practice did not stray far from what was predicted, but it was Madrid that disappointed. The Whites tightened at the start with approaches from Modric at the start and from Benzema, who clearly scored offside after a cross from Vinícius, but it faded away interrupted with fouls that he protested disproportionately, slowing down his own pace of play.
That suited Barça wonderfully. He started out dull and nervous, especially with a left wing to which Marcos Alonso fell, chosen as Christensen’s replacement as center back, but he gradually established himself. His objective, more than attacking, was to control the game. The lineup of four midfielders, a formula that he sublimated precisely against Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup (3-1 for the Blaugrana), sought to contain Madrid’s fast transitions, launched by Modric and Kroos and finished off by Valverde, Benzema and especially Vinicius. The Brazilian was guarded by Araújo as usual, and as usual the Uruguayan was also splendid.
The goal came in a play that defined the game until then. Vinícius threw the Bernabeu on top of the referee with fuss after seeing a yellow card (he gave De Jong a judo hold) and Barça took advantage of the hubbub to go their own way. Ferran Torres, who played striker, shot Kessié deep, bouncing his shot off Militão and Nacho before going into the net. The goal was annulled in the first instance due to an offside that the VAR was able to rectify. Barça went to rest making the most of their only chance of danger. Own goal.
After the break, Madrid launched the attack as was foreseeable and Barça rallied like few times, keeping the model in a drawer for one night. The feeling was clear: the match would be long for the blaugrana, little used to not taking the initiative. Their isolated attacks sought the career of Ferran Torres and Raphinha, two calamities complaining of lack of opportunities who did not win any of their duels against Militão and Rüdiger. Gavi also did not have his day in offensive duties as a false left winger.
The minutes went by and there was a sung substitution that was not quoted in the betting houses: Ansu Fati entered for Raphinha. The entry of 10 confirmed that he is pursued by misfortune. A play by Ferran Torres that Kessié culminated in with a kick that slipped through was cleared by the youth player who was a Madrid defender. Up to three Barça footballers fell to the ground in despair. The threat of 0-2 slowed down Real Madrid, who found no entry ways to create danger, definitely disoriented before the defensive version of their opponent. The game ended with a yellow card for Xavi for a change, locked in a discussion with Carvajal. He probably gave it up this time.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho (Rodrygo, m.67); Camavinga, Kroos (Tchouameni, m.74), Modric (Alvaro Rodriguez, m.84); Valverde, Vinicius and Benzema.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Conund, Marcos Alonso, Bucket; Busquets, Kessie (Sergi Roberto, m.86), De Jong, Gavi; Raphinha (Ansu Fati, m.69) and Ferran Towers.
Goal: 0-1, m.27: Militão, at home.
Referee: Munuera Montero (Andalusian school). He warned Vinicius (24), Nacho (55) and Valcerde (73) for Real Madrid; and Rapinha (45), Gavi (51), Kessie (66) and coach Xavi (90) for Barcelona.
Incidents: first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals played at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in front of 63,000 spectators.
