The El Classico, the greatest footballing rivalry in the world took place on April 6. Real Madrid locked horns with arch-rivals Barcelona. The game was a one-sided contest with Barcelona losing out 4:0 against a well-sorted Real Madrid squad. When the two teams met last time, it was Barcelona who won, but Madrid took Barcelona to the cleaners this time around. They played a very attacking game. King Karim, Karim Benzema, scored his hat-trick and this is exactly where Real Madrid took the game away. Here is a quick review of the game:
Barcelona Starting Line Up:
Marc Andre Ter Stegen; (Goalkeeper) Araujo (Defender), Jules Kounde(Defender), Andreas Christensen (Defender), Alejandro Balde (Defender); Sergi Roberto (Mid-fielder), Gavi (Central Mid-fielder), Sergio Busquets (PlayMaker/Mid-Fielder), Frankie De Jong (Mid-fielder/PlayMaker); Raphinha (Striker), Robert Lewandowski (Striker).
Real Madrid Starting Line Up:
Thibaut Courtois (Goalkeeper); Dani Carvajal (Defender), Eder Militao (Defender), Antonio Rudiger (Defender), Nacho (Defender); Luka Modric (Mid-Fielder), Camavinga (Mid-Fielder), Kroos (Mid-Fielder/Playmaker); Federico Valverde (Mid-Fielder), Karim Benzema (Striker), Vinicius Jr (Striker).
1st Half of El Classico:
The pace of the game was a little slower in the beginning. The teams were trying to settle in and deal with the pressure of the game being the “El Classico”. As the season is coming to an end, this was the semi-final of the Copa Del Rey, a prized trophy in Spanish football and an integral part of the treble. Real Madrid was one goal down from the previous leg which Barcelona won 1-0.
The game began with Raphinha trying in the 2nd minute itself. A clearance by Camavinga saved Madrid from a rocky start. Another great attempt by Barcelona broke in the final stage of the first half. Lewandowski hit the ball from a great cross, but it was Courtois to the rescue of the Los Blancos. He made a diving save. And from this save, Real Madrid was able to make a counterattack. Vinicius Jr countered the ball as fast as possible. His pace was electric, he teamed up with Benzema for the cross and scored. 1-0, Real Madrid.
2nd Half of El Classico:
With the lead in the first half, Real Madrid came attacking like never before in the second half. In the first 15 mins of the second half of the El Classico itself, the game was done and dusted. Modric pulled a cross over Benzema who shot the ball from outside the D-Box to score the second in the 50th minute of the El Classico.
Franck Kessie from Barcelona committed a foul on Vinicius Jr in the 57th minute and Karim Benzema scored the penalty to make it 3-0 in favor of Real Madrid. From then on, the Barcelona players looked tired and lacked motivation. The last and final goal came in the 80th minute. Benzema it was again. This time the play was made at the center of the D-top. It was a 3 VS 2 situation and Karim Benzema successfully drove the ball into the back of the net.
The El Classico turned into more of a no-contest. This victory takes Real Madrid into the final of the Copa Del Rey. They will now face Osasuna, the underdog team from this year, that has played its hearts out to qualify. This contest will be fun to watch.
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To know more go to the official website of the Copa Del Rey.