Barcelona snatched a gritty 1-0 win over rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final clash. Down the years, we were treated to some breathtaking El Clasico games, but this was very ordinary. There were no heroics, no late turnarounds, nor many flashes of skill. Instead, we’ve seen a disciplined Barca who took one one of the few chances that came their way with a bit of helf from Eduardo Camavinga and Eder Militao and secured a one-goal advantage ahead of the secong leg – which will be played on 5 April at Camp Nou.The Catalans’ tactician Xavi Hernandez struggled to outsmart Erik Tan Hag in their Europa League games against Manchester United, but he seems to have a recipe how to make life difficult for the boys wearing white shirts.Despite Real Madrid playing on the front foot for much of the game, it was the visiting team that looked more dangerous whenever they ventured into the opposing half. But the Catalans seldom did so. Instead, they defended in numbers and managed to frustrate Carlo Ancelotti’s players throughout. The game ended with Los Blancos failing to get a noteworthy shot at goal!Their goal came midway through the first half and was a result of Camavinga’s lapse in concentration. The young Frenchman dwelled on the ball and allowed Barca to break. Franck Kessie just evaded an offside trap from a well-timed Ferran Torres pass and got a shot away. The onrushing Thibaut Courtois saved it with his foot, but the ball bounced off Militao’s shin and crossed the line to put Barcelona in front.Real Madrid spent the rest of the 90 minutes trying to level, but all their attempts ended safely from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s point of view. On the other end, Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Kessie could have added another goal for the mean-defending Barca.Contrary to the somewhat subdued atmosphere on the pitch, the foreplay in the streets was a bit fierier. In the hours leading up to the game, angry Real Madrid supporters protested outside the stadium, asking for legal actions to be taken against Barcelona for their shady transactions to the Techical Comitee of Referees between 2016 and 2018. With doubts over the competition’s integrity, Los Blancos faithful handed out fake €500 banknotes with the face of Barca’s president Joan Laporta printed on them.Real Madrid fans against Joan LaportaThe return leg will be played in early March, with another El Clasico, in the league scheduled for 19 March.This was just a warm-up.
