Copa del Rey - Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 1 - Match Report
Malcom to the rescue as Barcelona & Real Madrid share the spoils in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg
Mitch Freeley
Barcelona and Real Madrid played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Malcom's second-half goal cancelled out a sixth-minute opener from Lucas Vazquez and ensured there will be plenty to play for in the return fixture on February 27.
With Lionel Messi fit enough only for a place on the bench, the onus was on Barca to show they could cope without their talisman in the first of a difficult run of fixtures this month.
Madrid went ahead with the second shot of the match, though, Vazquez twisting his body to flick the ball beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Karim Benzema's drilled cross.
Malcom, starting in the cup for the fifth time this season, scuffed a glorious chance straight at Keylor Navas but was spared somewhat by the offside flag.
The Brazilian was proving a problem down the Madrid left and it was his free-kick that Ivan Rakitic headed against the crossbar, before Vinicius Junior almost set up Benzema for a tap-in on the break.
Luis Suarez saw a shot well saved by Navas after more good Malcom work, but frustrations began to build for the home side in their struggle to create clear-cut openings.
They found the equaliser 57 minutes in, however, when Sergio Ramos, having brilliantly cleared a Suarez effort off the line, allowed Malcom's strike on the rebound to fly past him and into the net, apparently convinced it was going wide.
Messi and Gareth Bale were introduced from the bench, and it was the Madrid man who missed the best chance for a winner, failing to make the most of Benzema's pass after Ter Stegen had been left stranded.
Live Updates!
Goal! Suarez smashes the ball against the post and Malcom pounces on the rebound to level the scores! 1-1!
Chance! Phil Coutinho shapes to shoot and fires his effort over the bar!
Back underway in Barcelona! Can the Catalans find a way back into this?
Peep! Half-time! Real Madrid has the upper hand at the break, Lucas Vasquez struck early to give Los Blancos the lead. Barca looks a little short of ideas without Leo Messi pulling the strings, wonder if we will see him in the second half....
Chance! Ivan Rakotic's header hits the crossbar!
.@FCBarcelona are starting to fight back strong 💪 #ElClasico #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/vZBKhxFBz4 — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 6, 2019
Barca fight back! Malcom breaks through the middle! He's offside, still he fails to find the back of the net!
Goal! Just like that Real Madrid take the lead! Benzema drills the ball across the goal and Vasquez slots the ball home from close range!
Peep! We are underway in Barcelona! Those Flags look lovely!
Preamble
So we are five minutes away from kick-off! Who is going to have the upper hand heading into the second leg??? Updates and goals as they come in!
Now for Real Madrid! Gareth Bale drops to the bench, Isco joins him. Vinicius Junior starts after starring against Alaves at the weekend!
📝 Our starting XI tonight! Come on lads! #RMClasico | #RMCopa pic.twitter.com/aw6TK9KKVX — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 6, 2019
Team News! We have the Team News in! First Up Barcelona! The headline! No Leo Messi, who has to settle for a place on the bench after suffering a knock in the 2-2 defeat against Valencia!
🔵🔴 Barça XI#ElClásico #CopaBarça pic.twitter.com/rPUXJWdfOL — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 6, 2019
Good news Real Madrid fans! Former Los Blancos star Wesley Sneijder is in the Arabic studio! Hopefully, we'll be getting some clips from the Dutch playmaker during the game for you!
Get excited as @sneijder101010 joins us in the studio for tonight's #ElClasico!#CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/pGwULJYB9q — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 6, 2019
Likewise, the Real Madrid changing room is looking peachy!
👕🔢 Everything is ready! #RMCopa | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/W0iz1yo2FH — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 6, 2019
A little look at the Barca changing room! I spy Leo Messi's shirt... I wonder if he'll be starting tonight!
📍 Camp Nou
🏆 #CopaBarça
🤩 All set for #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/Vt7ezCKH6P — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 6, 2019
These are heady El Clasico days! Three in just 25 days! The first one is coming up in just an hours time!
Magisterial 25 days ahead of us 🥳
Are you ready? #ClasicoTime
Everything starts today at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT on beIN SPORTS 📺⏰ pic.twitter.com/GnlrxTru4B — beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 6, 2019
Good evening! Fancy a midweek El Clasico? Of course, you do! Barca faces off against rivals Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg of the Copa del Ray. Join me for all the latest team news, team news and update from the game including video highlights from the big match!
