El Clasico: Barca, Madrid Share Spoils In Cop Del Rey First Leg
7th February 2019
Neither Lionel Messi nor Gareth Bale were named in the starting line-ups for this first leg but their replacements filled the void as Malcom's curling shot cancelled out an early opener from Lucas Vazquez
- Real Madrid gained a measure of redemption at the Camp Nou by holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday and taking the upper-hand in the semi-final of Copa del Rey
- After an impressive opening 20 minutes, Madrid were largely second best in a compelling, if unspectacular, Clasico but the result leaves them well-placed heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 27
- For Santiago Solari's side, a resilient, gutsy display will also help erase the memory of their humiliation here in October, when they were thrashed 5-1, a result that caused Julen Lopetegui to be sacked the following day
BARCELONA, Spain- Real Madrid gained a measure of redemption at the Camp Nou by holding
Barcelona to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday and taking the upper-hand in the
semi-final of Copa del Rey.
Neither Lionel Messi
nor Gareth Bale were named in the starting line-ups for this first leg but
their replacements filled the void as Malcom's curling shot cancelled out an
early opener from Lucas Vazquez.
After an impressive
opening 20 minutes, Madrid were largely second best in a compelling, if
unspectacular, Clasico but the result leaves them well-placed heading into the
second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 27.
For Santiago
Solari's side, a resilient, gutsy display will also help erase the memory of
their humiliation here in October, when they were thrashed 5-1, a result that
caused Julen Lopetegui to be sacked the following day.
Messi, who had been
struggling with a thigh problem, and Bale, who faces a fight to regain his
place after recently recovering from a calf injury, both came on after the hour
but neither could inspire a winner.
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Instead, it was the
young guns that took centre stage. Vinicius Junior, the youngest Real Madrid
player to feature in a Clasico this century, was his team's greatest threat
until the 18-year-old departed in the second half.
Malcom was just as
unpredictable and in the end, it was his goal that keeps Barca on level
terms.
Barely 10 seconds
had passed before Toni Kroos snapped into Ivan Rakitic, setting the tone for
what was a dominant opening spell from Madrid.
Vinicius led the
way. He was fearless, full of imperfections and erratic decisions but
delivering moments of clarity too when Madrid were at their most
threatening.
He jinked inside
Nelson Semedo and teed up Kroos before producing the cross that created the
goal, an arching ball over the head of Jordi Alba, which Karim Benzema tucked
back for Vazquez to poke in.
Rakitic and Philippe
Coutinho were both careless in possession but Vinicius lacked precision to
capitalise, first scuttling into Benzema and then misreading the Frenchman's
run.
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Barca had been just
as frantic, with Luis Suarez even tripping over his own feet. But they improved
and after half an hour, were in the ascendancy.
Malcom missed a
one-on-one and then became their best player for a period, crossing for Rakitic
to head against the bar and teeing up Suarez to sting the hands of Keylor
Navas.
The home fans called
Messi's name at the start of the second half and when he jogged up the
touchline shortly before the hour, they roared as if for a goal.
They did that soon
after too, after an equaliser of chaos and quality in equal measure. Navas
rushed out to block Alba before Suarez curled a brilliant shot that beat the
diving Sergio Ramos but not the post.
It spilled to Malcom
and he still had work to do, 20 yards out with white shirts in front. He found
a gap.
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Messi came on, along
with Arturo Vidal, Bale and Casemiro. Vinicius was among those to make way, his
bright start fading with fatigue.
Neither side seemed
sure how much to commit for a winner. Messi twice weaved through but the best
chance fell to Bale, who received from Benzema after Marc-Andre ter Stegen's
skewed clearance. The goal was open but Bale's touch was heavy and Semedo
jumped to make a crucial block.