The last two tournament champions face each other in Barcelona in the second-leg match of the semifinals, wide open after the 1-1 score in the first match
Diego Jabalquinto
There's only one match left. Real Madrid and Barcelona face each other at the Camp Nou for a place in the Copa del Rey final after the 1-1 score of the first match at the Bernabeu left the playoff wide open. The last two tournament champions are going up against each other in a match where the Whites need to score. They'll be counting on Cristiano Ronaldo to do so, as he's scored six goals in his last five visits to Barcelona's home turf. The last time the two teams faced off in the semifinal the first-leg score was the same and the Whites managed to win their way through to the final in the return match at the Camp Nou.
Two of the world's best football teams face off for the fifth time this season and do so with a final at stake. Real Madrid and Barcelona go into the match on Catalonian turf for one of the top two placings in the tournament neck and neck in the tally of their previous encounters, with one win each and two draws. Their last clash with Barcelona as the homeside was in la Liga and ended 2-2, a score that would send the Whites through on this occasion. In addition, the first title of the season, the Spanish Super Cup, which both teams played, went to Mourinho's side.
They are precedents that augur well for the Whites.
The last time that Real Madrid and Barcelona faced each other in the Copa del Rey semifinals was in 1993. Curiously enough, the first-leg match was played at the Santiago Bernabeu and also ended 1-1. The Whites later won 1-2 at the Camp Nou, qualifying for the final. In total, the two teams have faced each other five times in the penultimate round of the competition with the Whites winning on three occasions. In this edition Mourinho's team find themselves among the four top teams after defeating Alcoyano, Celta and Valencia in previous rounds.
They are precedents that augur well for the Whites.
The last time that Real Madrid and Barcelona faced each other in the Copa del Rey semifinals was in 1993. Curiously enough, the first-leg match was played at the Santiago Bernabeu and also ended 1-1. The Whites later won 1-2 at the Camp Nou, qualifying for the final. In total, the two teams have faced each other five times in the penultimate round of the competition with the Whites winning on three occasions. In this edition Mourinho's team find themselves among the four top teams after defeating Alcoyano, Celta and Valencia in previous rounds.
MADRID - BARCELONA COPA DEL REY SEMIFINALS | |||||
Year | Score first leg | Score second leg | Tie Breaker | ||
1916 | Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid | Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona | Real Madrid 6-6 Barcelona Real Madrid 4-2 Barcelona | ||
1943 | Barcelona 3-0 Real Madrid | Real Madrid 11-1 Barcelona | - | ||
1954 | Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona | Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid | - | ||
1959 | Real Madrid 2-4 Barcelona | Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid | - | ||
1993 | Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona | Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid | - |
“We all like these matches and we all want to play them, including myself. Xabi Alonso is ready to play and Benzema trained with the team yesterday and today too and is also in physical condition to play”, Jose Mourinho stated in the press conference. The coach will also be able to count on Cristiano Ronaldo, the standout player of recent Clasicos. The Portuguese forward has scored 14 goals so far this year and has scored seven in the last seven matches against Barcelona and six in his last five visits to the Camp Nou.
Undefeated in the Copa del Rey
Barcelona remains undefeated in the competition, hosting Real Madrid after having defeated Alaves, Cordoba and Malaga. They won the two matches against the Basque side (0-3 and 3-1) and also against Cordoba (0-2 and 5-0). The had a tougher time with Malaga (2-2 in the first-leg match at the Camp Nou and 2-4 at La Rosaleda). Villa and Messi are Barcelona's top goal-scorers in the tournament with five and four goals respectively.
CLASHES BETWEEN BOTH TEAMS THIS SEASON | ||
Date | Competition | Match |
23/08/2012 | Supercopa (ida) | Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid |
30/08/2012 | Supercopa (vuelta) | Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona |
07/10/2012 | Liga | Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid |
30/01/2013 | Copa (ida de semifinales) | Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona |