Xavi’s Barcelona are 90 minutes from the Spanish Cup final after a shock first-leg 1-0 win over Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
The build-up had been cloaked in negativity most of it emanating from Barcelona after two straight defeats and a string of key injuries but they have made 1-0 wins their unlikely trademark this season with seven in the league already.
They scrapped at the Santiago Bernabeu and were brilliantly defensively with Ronald Araujo once again too much for Vincius who picked up another yellow, got involved in a pushing match with Gavi, but never looked like adding to his goal tally for this season.
In the last 15 games at the Santiago Bernabeu Barcelona have won nine and this was as special as it was unexpected with Real Madrid not mustering a single shot on goal.
Madrid started the game as overwhelming favourites because Barcelona were without their three top scorers Roberto Lewandowski, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele but it was a Real Madrid player that gave Xavi’s side the lead on 26 minutes when Camavinga erred with his back pass and Gavi intercepted the ball.
Barcelona took the lead through an own goal from Eder Militao following a long VAR check
The opening goal was bundled in off Militao and Nacho after a sloppy backpass from Eduardo Camavinga
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He slipped in Franck Kessie and when Thibaut Courtois saved his shot he parried it straight at Eder Militao who couldn’t help but run it over the line.
Madrid failed to muster a decent effort on goal in the first half with Araujo the kryptonite to Madrid’s Superman Vinicius.
The Uruguayan defender now has a 9-1 aggregate score against the Brazilian in four games against him.
Earlier in the season Madrid beat Barcelona in the first league clasico but that was without Araujo in their team.
With Vinicius nullified by the Uruguayan they were restricted to one Luka Modric effort and Barcelona were able to soak up the pressure and threaten on the break.
Ferran Torres almost doubled the lead with 20 minutes left, just failing to get on the end of Raphinha’s cross. It was the former Leeds winger’s last intervention as Xavi threw on Ansu Fati.
The Blaugrana put on a solid and resolute defensive show on Thursday night in Madrid
Vinicius was booked early on in a tie that saw six players shown a yellow card as well as Xavi
Karim Benzema was frequently crowded out as Real Madrid came away without a goal to show for their dominance in possession
Carlo Ancelotti’s side must now go to their arch-rivals in pursuit of a result to stay in the competition
Referee Luis Munuera Montero had a busy night taking charge of a full-blooded clash between two rivals
