This will be the first of three El Clasico fixtures in the space of less than a month, with the second Copa del Rey tie being played near the end of February and then a La Liga game at the Bernabeu following just three days later. Barça's bid to win the Copa for a record fifth season on the trot continues after - the first time in 34 years that they have won a domestic cup tie from such a position. JesĂșs Vallejo will miss out for Real Madrid due to a hamstring injury, and so will Luca Zidane, but other than that, they have a clean bill of health. Messi and Gareth Bale were introduced from the bench, and it was the Madrid man who missed the best chance for a winner, failing to make the most of Benzema's pass after Ter Stegen had been left stranded. . I spy Leo Messi's shirt. Barcelona, meanwhile, will face matches at Lyon in the Champions League, followed by a visit to in the league.
Can the defensive midfield trio of Arturo Vidal, Sergio Busquets, and Ivan Rakitic show off enough offensive creativity to make the Real Madrid defense worried about someone other than Messi? The matchup between the rivals means both sides will face several tough games in a short span. The biggest argument is whether to start Sergio Reguilón at left-back over Marcelo. The young Brazilian drove Barca wild in the first leg down the left. Meanwhile, Samuel Umtiti is still injured. He's offside, still he fails to find the back of the net! Benzema drills the ball across the goal and Vasquez slots the ball home from close range! As good as he is, simply put, Marc-André Ter Stegen is better. Oh come on, get on with it. Three in just 25 days! Phil Coutinho shapes to shoot and fires his effort over the bar! Barca looks a little short of ideas without Leo Messi pulling the strings, wonder if we will see him in the second half.
Can the Catalans find a way back into this? That forces Barcelona to score at least a goal to have a chance, while a 0-0 draw or a victory will see Real Madrid advance. Betis will be at home in the first leg of their tie with Valencia, by the way. In goal Marc-André ter Stegen will start as cup keeper Jasper Cillessen is still injured. Keylor Navas is expected to get the nod between the sticks as designated cup keeper. The final will be on May 25 at Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville, a 61,000-capacity venue that is home to Betis. Would we see Malcom take part? Madrid got their best spell playing with a back 3 in the previous meeting, but I suspect Solari will name his usual 4-3-3 system.
Whilst in midfield, Carles Alena could start ahead of Arturo Vidal. Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© impressed on the night, too. Hopefully, we'll be getting some clips from the Dutch playmaker during the game for you! Two-time champion Real Betis and seven-time winner will play in the other semifinal, also beginning next week. In midfield, I suspect Valverde will go with as the pivot and Ivan RakitiÄ and Arthur ahead of him. Someone like Aleñå or Malcom or Roberto may be asked to defend more than Messi does, but Barça will lose a lot of attacking threat. Lionel Messi and Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© were both in a race for fitness to play, and in the end, only Messi made the squad list. The contest comes at a crucial moment for the reigning European Cup winners with a round of sixteen tie against Ajax coming up following the second Clasico against Barca on Saturday.
With moves like this, who could blame him? That is, unless Roberto deputizes for Messi at right-wing. Albeit, one that Barcelona overcame in glorious fashion in their previous meeting with Madrid, winning 5-1. Everyone's getting in on the act here. They need to remain composed, look to go on the counter with speed and feed Karim Benzema. Well, Semedo is still useful anyway, and he might be a better matchup for Vinicius than Roberto would be. Additional streams can be found on Reddit via the subreddit via this. Jasper Cillessen would normally start this game, as he does for all cup games, but he is definitely out through injury.
Karim Benzema is in sparkling form, having started the season just the opposite. The first one is coming up in just an hours time! Suarez smashes the ball against the post and Malcom pounces on the rebound to level the scores! Updates and goals as they come in! He tends to play cup games, so he is likely to be preferred over Thibaut Courtois. However, this, if anything, could benefit Barcelona. After a dashed entertaining quarter-final stage - whose four ties produced no fewer than 30 goals - we've now been left with a thoroughly enticing line-up in the semis: Real Betis, Real Madrid, Valencia and holders Barcelona. This will be the first of three meetings between the eternal rivals in February and likely will color how the teams will approach their upcoming clashes. Neither is a first-team regular.
They found the equaliser 57 minutes in, however, when Sergio Ramos, having brilliantly cleared a Suarez effort off the line, allowed Malcom's strike on the rebound to fly past him and into the net, apparently convinced it was going wide. Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet three times in the space of a month after being paired together in Friday's Copa del Rey semi-final draw. How to Live Stream the Game The two teams kickoff at 3:00 p. Barcelona, Madrid, Betis and Valencia in semi-final pot Barcelona, Real Betis, Real Madrid and Valencia are the teams in the hat after all coming through high-scoring clashes in what was an entertaining last eight. But clearly, not having Messi is a huge problem. However, Roberto tends to play well in these sorts of games, and he could pose more of a problem for Madrid on the attacking side, in his combinations with Messi, particularly if Marcelo is once again caught upfield.
Their last meeting was in the 2014 final, which Real Madrid won for its last title in the competition. With Lionel Messi fit enough only for a place on the bench, the onus was on Barca to show they could cope without their talisman in the first of a difficult run of fixtures this month. Malcom breaks through the middle! By the way, that Real Madrid vs Barcelona second leg will come less than a week before the arch rivals then meet once again in LaLiga on 2 March. We're about to find out. Thus far, nothing to report.
Going by form perception alone, Madrid have gained an upper hand at just the right time. Vinicius Junior starts after starring against Alaves at the weekend! At right-back, Valverde has a question of whether to go with NĂ©lson Semedo or Sergi Roberto. So, we know the second semi-final tie is a ClĂĄsico, but what we don't know is who'll be at home in each leg. Barcelona prediction Real puts together a strong gameplan and controls the middle of the pitch, with a Luka Modric goal sealing the result. The initial indications are that the Betis vs Valencia tie will be played on Thursday 7 February and Wednesday 27 February, with the Copa ClĂĄsico set for Wednesday 6 February and Wednesday 27 February - but in each case that could potentially change.
His record isn't too bad. No Leo Messi, who has to settle for a place on the bench after suffering a knock in the 2-2 defeat against Valencia! Real Madrid has the upper hand at the break, Lucas Vasquez struck early to give Los Blancos the lead. Samuel Umtiti returned to the side against Sevilla but may have to settle for a place on the bench. Upfront, we will see Luis SuĂĄrez flanked by Lionel Messi if fit and probably Phillppe Coutinho, with DembĂ©lĂ© not yet in full fitness. And VinicĂus Junior the main threat for the home side. Just like that Real Madrid take the lead! Valverde subbed Semedo off at halftime against ; was that a sign that he much preferred Roberto, or that he was resting Semedo ahead of starting this match? Yet again, Leo Messi shone for the Catalans scoring a hattrick, including a thumping volley from 30 yards out.