Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Eder Militao own goal gives Barca the advantage in Copa del Rey semi-final

Barcelona beat Real Madrid 1-0 in a fiery Copa del Rey first leg semi-final. The hosts started El Clasico as the better team but it was Xavi’s men who scored with it going down as an Eder Militao own goal. Ad Barca pounced on a bad touch and Franck Kessie’s shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois, yet the stop ended up hitting the Brazilian centre-back and rolling over the line.

Copa del Rey'Xavi needs to find an ace up his sleeve!' – Preview of upcoming Copa del Rey ClasicoYESTERDAY AT 07:37 Real Madrid pushed hard to level up the tie in the second half but struggled to create a clear cut chance with the visitors defending excellently, restricting them throughout the second half by sitting deep. The best chance fell to Barca on the break, Kessie was left shocked as his goal-bound shot was blocked by his own man Ansu Fati. The second leg at the Nou Camp is on April 5 with the winner set to play Osasuna or Athletic Bilbao in the final.

TALKING POINT – A NEW BARCA Gone are the Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique days of Barcelona, where it was possession football versus anybody. This is Xavi’s team that have a different ways of doing things when necessary. Barcelona camped on the edge of their own box for much of the game and defended fantastically.

Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Marcos Alonso were disciplined and organised and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen commanded his box so well. Xavi’s tactics were spot on as in the end, Barca had the best chances of the game and Kessie can’t believe he didn’t net an El Clasico brace. PLAYER OF THE MATCH – RONALD ARAUJO Ronald Araujo was fantastic playing a half right-back, half centre-back role.