Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Barcelona bounced out back from a bad week in the best way, handing El Clasico rivals Real Madrid their first home loss in nearly a year.

This United squad seems to have a real togetherness and a lovely balance to it right now. Pep Guardiola and Man City are now five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and have 13 games to go. Who will be the surprise package? Xavi is without a trio of key players as Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele are all out. Ferland Mendy is still out, while David Alaba injured his hamstring against Liverpool and won’t return until early April. Gavi and Pedri are essential to how they play under Xavi but the latter is missing, which is a big blow too.

Real Madrid take on Barcelona in midweek Copa del Rey action in the 252nd El Clasico meeting between the two most famous sides in Spanish football.

Real Madrid wins They met again as Ancelotti moved on to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. The two clubs have met each other in 251 competitive matches, with Real Madrid winning 101, Barcelona 98, and the teams sharing the spoils 52 times.

Real Madrid and Barcelona clash today in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.Real trail Barcelona in La Liga by seven points but were at their ...

The Croatia midfielder's shot is blocked but bounces back for Araujo, who attempts to atone for his inadvertent own goal with an effort of his own. Camavinga floats a delivery into the box. Despite a host of key absences, they took advantage of a rebound to score a goal and then held on until the end. They both now have a month to come up with something better for the second leg at the Camp Nou. Madrid had lots of the ball, but created very little. [#RealMadrid]⚪️⚪️ registered their highest possession tally in [#ElClasico]tonight (64.7) in all competitions since 2013/14 season, with [#Barcelona]🔵🔴 registering their lowest tally in this period in any game from any competition (35.3%). "We defended very well," he said. The result isn't great but we controlled the game and that is good." •6h ago [pic.twitter.com/AHfJgYjmis] [March 2, 2023] They have a foot and a half in the final. •5h ago

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Copa del Rey semi final will take place on Thursday at Santiago Bernabeu in Spanish capital Madrid.

The game is available to watch online in the US on ESPN+. Real Madrid vs Barcelona Copa del Rey semi final will be played on March 2, 2023. Real Madrid vs Barcelona Head to Head (h2h), ResultsReal Madrid wins: 101 Real Madrid vs Barcelona PredictionReal Madrid to win, 2-1. Real will then leave for a key La Liga meeting at the Camp Nou before coming home for the second leg. Where to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Spain's biggest sides are more similar than they were a generation ago, but there are still important differences.

Barcelona play more directly, and get the ball up the field to their attackers who attack the box and look to generate opportunities. Ultimately these two teams are evenly matched, and they play the game in superficially similar ways. But similar to the story in attack when you break down the numbers you see the two teams diverge slightly, but significantly in their approach. Barcelona want to play direct, get the ball up the field and into the box, and score goals. These two teams are the best in Spain when it comes to preventing their opponents from scoring. Rather, both teams want to play a relatively up-and-down game, but when push comes to shove, it's Madrid who are somewhat more willing to recirculate the ball, and Barcelona who want to find a shot quickly once they're in attacking zones rather than look for better opportunities. Shots against Madrid are worth 0.07 xG per shot, the best mark in the league while shots against Barcelona are worth, on average 0.10, a much more middle-of-the-pack number. These are two very good teams, and it's sure to be an entertaining affair when they take the field on Thursday, but this simply isn't your somewhat older brother's Clasico. But it is Madrid who hold the advantage in passes completed in the final third at 3685 to 3236. Madrid are happier to keep the ball once they're in the attacking third until they chose an opportune moment to strike. The intricate stylings of a Barcelona side built on Pep Guardiola's tika-taka passing style against the thundering up and down of Madrid. You won't find a bigger rivalry than Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the two mega-clubs write another El Clasico chapter Thursday when they meet in the first leg of the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.

How to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona: The two giants of Spanish football meet in the Copa Del Rey semi-final first leg tonight. Here's how to watch El ...

You can read our guide to the Everyone loves a Real Madrid vs Barcelona game and a two-legged semi-final affair in the Copa Del Rey is double the fun. Real Madrid vs Barcelona kicks off at 8:00pm UK time on Thursday March 2. You’ll need an active BT Sport subscription in order to watch the game. However, it’s definitely one to look forward to with no domestic football on the UK calendar tonight. Here’s how to watch El Clasico live in the UK.

HALFTIME, Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Barça weathered the early storm from Madrid, remained composed and scored with their only chance of the half. They also ...

This should be fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Back underway at the Bernabéu! [Real Madrid](https://www.managingmadrid.com) in the Spanish capital is the site of a huge Copa del Rey semi-final first leg between the hosts and Barcelona, who meet in the latest edition of [El Clásico](http://www.sbnation.com/el-clasico-barcelona-real-madrid) with a place in the Spanish Cup title game on the line. Franck Kessie wins the ball in midfield and makes the run into the box to receive a pass from Ferran Torres, and after the Ivorian’s shot is saved by Thibaut Courtois the ball hits Éder Militão and finally the foot of Nacho before it goes into the Madrid net! HALFTIME, Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Barça weathered the early storm from Madrid, remained composed and scored with their only chance of the half. Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona (Nacho OG): BARÇA TAKE THE LEAD!!!

Osauna gained a 1-0 first leg lead over Athletic Club in the opposite semifinal, and the El Clasico duo will both be determined to book their place in the final ...

40 mins from kickoff: Barcelona's last Copa del Rey El Clasico meeting with Real Madrid came at the semifinal stage back in 2018/19. [pic.twitter.com/eoqTtuKKPv] [March 2, 2023] [pic.twitter.com/watjFa8Nig] [March 2, 2023] [pic.twitter.com/BhIS45d8J8] [March 2, 2023] A quick VAR check......... [pic.twitter.com/sdDyDtXg0J] [March 2, 2023] [pic.twitter.com/FdkcTNeMBT] [March 2, 2023] Gavi picks up a booking as the referee has enough of his constant fouls. Fati replaces Raphinha and Rodrygo comes on for Nacho. [pic.twitter.com/JbbyiFxGTw] [March 2, 2023] 1 0

Martin Green has locked in his Copa del Rey picks and best bets for the Barcelona vs. Real Madrid El Clasico matchup on Thursday.

- Real Madrid vs. Barca got goals from Gavi, Lewandowski and Pedri and didn't allow Real Madrid to score until the 93rd minute. The Blaugrana enter the match knowing they handily beat Real Madrid less than seven weeks ago. Green has broken down the Copa del Rey match from every possible angle. Barcelona features a disciplined backline, conceding just eight times in 23 La Liga games. He joins the injured Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri, both of whom will not be available until mid-March. And on Sunday the club suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat at Almeria, which had won only one of their last eight matches. Caesars Sportsbook lists Real Madrid as the -120 favorites (risk $120 to win $100) in the latest Real Madrid vs. Green is 52-47-1 on his SportsLine soccer picks since the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup, generating almost $900 for $100 bettors. Barcelona odds, with Barcelona the +330 underdogs. One of the best rivalries in soccer will be renewed on Thursday when Barcelona and Real Madrid rekindle El Clasico in the first leg of a 2022-23 Copa del Rey semifinal on Thursday at the Bernabéu in Madrid. The teams are scheduled to play the second leg of the semifinal in Barcelona on April 5.

Barcelona rode a first-half own goal from Real Madrid to a 1-0 win in their Copa del Rey semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday night.

[Rodrygo](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/267804/Rodrygo) was back from injury but started on the bench, with Vinícius and [Karim Benzema](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema) in the starting lineup. "We dominated the game," Courtois said. We didn't get the final ball. We played a good game, in control, but we didn't find the chance. "They defended well, they concede few goals. And even without having control of the ball as we would have liked, we didn't suffer that much." "You can see how equal these games are, the two teams compete really well," Busquets said. "It was an important win, but we still have the second leg to go, so we are not getting ahead of ourselves yet," Busquets said. [called Madrid favourites ahead of the tie](/football/barcelona-espbarcelona/story/4890090/real-madrid-favourites-in-copa-del-rey-clasico-against-stuttering-barcelona-xavi-hernandez) and, despite the Catalans having won the Spanish Super Cup Clasico 3-1 in Saudi Arabia on Jan. I am lucky to have been at the best club in the world for many years and I am still enjoying it. A banner by Madrid fans at the Bernabeu said: "Clean and white, never tarnished." [Lionel Messi](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/45843/Lionel-Messi) and Madrid defender [Sergio Ramos](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/41579/Sergio-Ramos) for most appearances in the game between the clubs.

Los Blancos, who were defeated 1-0, are only a season removed from winning La Liga and the Champions League. But in soccer, a season is all that it takes for ...

He has been fine in defense where his work rate and skills in possession have helped keep Real Madrid balanced but when Ancelotti needs midfielders, Camavinga hasn't been able to rise to the occasion to shine in the middle of the park. They got it from him last year in the Champions League final, but they are going to need even more to turn things around in the Copa del Rey. For Barcelona's lone goal, it was a giveaway by Camavinga that led to Franck Kessie's shot that was saved off of Militao, and Camavinga losing the ball starting a counter-attack has become all too common of an occurrence for Real Madrid. Under a month removed from losing to Mallorca, Real Madrid have become a vulnerable side but what are some of the things that are plaguing the team? When Camavinga was signed by Real Madrid from Rennes, he was one of the most sought-after young talents in the world. A central midfielder who could be molded as either a defensive midfielder or a box-to-box one, he has been able to learn from the likes of Casemiro, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos.

Osauna gained a 1-0 first leg lead over Athletic Club in the opposite semifinal, and the El Clasico duo will both be determined to book their place in the final ...

[pic.twitter.com/gv13XNJTyL] [March 2, 2023] 40 mins from kickoff: Barcelona's last Copa del Rey El Clasico meeting with Real Madrid came at the semifinal stage back in 2018/19. [pic.twitter.com/BhIS45d8J8] [March 2, 2023] A quick VAR check......... [pic.twitter.com/sdDyDtXg0J] [March 2, 2023] [pic.twitter.com/FdkcTNeMBT] [March 2, 2023] Gavi picks up a booking as the referee has enough of his constant fouls. Fati replaces Raphinha and Rodrygo comes on for Nacho. 1 0 [pic.twitter.com/QICCUYLjhd] [March 2, 2023] [#RealMadrid]⚪️⚪️ failed to make a single shot on target for the first time at home in all competitions, and for the first time this happens in [#ElClásico]since 2013/14 season.