Copa del Rey: Equal all over the pitch
The Copa del Rey semi-final first leg Clasico ended all square and, while the two teams will continue to argue their merits and express why they should have won, the fact remains that the equality at the Camp Nou could not have been clearer.
It was more than the result, but also the feelings and sensations that arose from the games, though the statistics were also balanced. Each scored a goal, both sides had 11 shots, three corners and Barcelona had 12 crosses to Real Madrid’s 14.
Santiago Solari’s side will remember the two chances that fell the way of Vinicius Junior or the near-open goal that Gareth Bale passed up. Barcelona, meanwhile, can point to Ivan Rakitic hitting the crossbar, Keylor Navas denying Luis Suarez or Malcom’s missed opportunity.
Even defensively, the teams were equal. Madrid made 17 fouls compared to the hosts’ 16 and Ernesto Valverde’s side recovered 57 balls to the visitors’ 61.
Barcelona had the better of the possession, but lost balls were almost inseparable, with a tally of 116-115.
The Estadio Santiago Bernabeu will decide who progresses and Los Blancos will gladly take a 1-1 draw back to the capital where the two will have to go head-to-head again.
…Culled from Marca.com/eng