On Wednesday, Real Madrid sealed their place in the final of the Copa del Rey after a sublime display at the Camp Nou. It was a memorable night as The Whites had to turn around a 0-1 first-leg deficit in great style. Four goals to the historical rival to send Real Madrid in Copa del Rey final for the 1st time since 2014 in Ancelotti’s 1st spell with Los Blancos. Madridistas seemed too clear and determined since the beginning of the game and this was reflected in their performance as they took the most out of their chances and did not leave room for the opponent to counter react. After the 1st goal and especially in the 2nd half, Xavi’s men collapsed defensively due to Real Madrid’s pressure.
Ancelotti‘s men went into the break a goal to the good through Vini Jr. in first-half stoppage time after a swift counterattack. In the second half, Madrid moved up a gear, playing like true European champions, and Ballon d'Or winner Benzema struck his second hat-trick in the space of three days – the Frenchman making it 0-2 in the 49th minute with a low strike across the keeper from the edge of the D. Eight minutes later the forward converted a penalty to put the madridistas 3-0 up, after Vini Jr. had been tripped by Kessié in the box. In the 80th minute, the rout was complete for the visitors, as a sensational assist by Vini Jr. put Benzema through on goal and the striker calmy finished past Ter Stegen.
The madridistas almost opened the scoring in the 12th minute of play, when a pinpoint cross by Rodrygo picked out Vini Jr., but Araujo came to the home side’s rescue with a goal-line clearance. Two minutes later, Barcelona hit back through Rapinha’s headed effort from inside the area which failed to trouble Courtois. Both sides enjoyed long spells of possession but were unable to carve out clear-cut chances until the 33rd minute.
Kroos swung in a cross for Benzema who volleyed goalwards but Ter Stegen was on hand to make the save. Just as it seemed the game would be heading into the break at 0-0, the Whites snatched a goal. Courtois first denied Lewandowski with a spectacular full-stretch save and Ancelotti’s men countered fast with Benzema playing in Vini Jr., who slotted past the keeper, hitting Koundé on the way in to crawl over the line.
Everything was still to play for at this stage, but the second half was about to turn into a blistering exhibition of attacking football from Real Madrid. It could hardly have got off to a better start as Modrić received the ball between the lines with 49 minutes on the clock, laid the ball to Benzema at the edge of the box, and the Frenchman whipped an inch-perfect finish into the bottom corner. At 2-0, our team were now ahead in the tie. Barcelona looked to level things up with a fierce Balde drive but Courtois was more than equal to it on 52’, before Araujo worked some space to get his shot off but failed to find the target four minutes later.
From this point on, Madrid really took things up a notch, extending their lead with 57 minutes gone when Kessié upended Vini Jr. in the box and Martínez Munuera pointed to the spot. Benzema stepped up to fire past Ter Stegen. Just two minutes later, Ancelotti’s team could have made it four when Modrić pulled the ball across the box but the lunging Rodrygo narrowly failed to get the touch required to turn it into the back of the net.
Real Madrid were punishing Barcelona now and as the clock ticked around to 80 minutes, they put the tie well and truly beyond doubt, Benzema finishing sweetly from Vini Jr.’s outrageous assist in another rapid offensive transition to complete his second hat-trick in three days. Ancelotti’s team will now play for their 20th Copa del Rey in the final – a showdown with Osasuna set for May 6th at La Cartuja (Seville).
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