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An armored Barça, oblivious to his intimate ball, took the lead against Madrid in his first round of cupbeating. Real stayed dry against Araujo’s team, flag-bearers of a Barça that took refuge on the ropes of Chamartín after Pedri, Lewandowski and Dembélé blacked out. An impeccable defensive exercise that prevented his rival from splashing even close to ter Stegen, who didn’t count for a worthy save. His defensive squad covered him wonderfully. A Barça that is as countercultural as it is effective and competitive, even if the goal was accidentally scored by Militão.
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Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Rüdiger, Eder Militao, Nacho (Rodrygo, min 66), Federico Valverde, Modric (Álvaro Rodríguez, min 84), Vinicius Junior, Kroos (Aurelien Tchouameni, min 73), Camavinga and Benzema
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Ter Stegen, Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Alex Balde, Marcos Alonso, Kessié Franck (Sergi Roberto, min. 85), Frenkie De Jong, Busquets, Raphinha (Ansu Fati, min. 69), Ferrán Torres and Gavi
Goals 0-1 min 25: Eder Militao (p).
referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero
Yellow cards Vinicius Junior (min. 24), Raphinha (min. 44), Gavi (min. 50), Nacho (min. 55), Kessié Franck (min. 66), Federico Valverde (min. 72) and Hernández (min ..91)
The local team – 65% ball possession – had nerves of steel and lacked offensive spirit, limited to the lateral centres, anchored by Araujo’s Vinicius. There were white attacks to the last blink, but it was all useless for a disorderly Madrid. A Madrid where, in the face of such an unexpected match plot, both roll up their sleeves and get nothing. Another Barça, another football that confirmed him against his infinite opponent. Barça wasn’t Barça and Real wasn’t Real. All very strange.
The match turned out to be a very martial duel right from the start. fighters on all sides. From gust to gust since De Jong and Vinicius left the grass for the tatami. They teamed up like two judokas and the Brazilian was charged with the card for his last key. Well, they could both take it. Or none. The same thing happened after the break. A snap between Gavi and Vinicius led to the Andalusian’s conviction. Carding is compulsory in Spain.
The match between Vinicius and De Jong set the Bernabéu on fire. Each attack – and there were many – left staff on the verge of drowsiness. And in the middle of the caldera, Camavinga got lost and the pass towards his range was intercepted by Ferran, who by then was being pinched by local defenses. The Valencian connected with Kessié. Courtois’ free-kick bounced off Militão and the ball slipped into the Madrid net. The VAR had to confirm the Ivorian’s position. A shot of Barca and a visit from confetti.
Barça burned with the ball, his usual livelihood. A day to forget the model of yore, especially with so many low capitals. The absence of Pedri discolors Barça, who seduces the ball. In Madrid, a Barça without a break, without crushing on the ball that naturalized him.
Without a Pedri, football is complicated when there is a common and generous opponent that encapsulates the rival. Xavi’s group suffocated. Modric arrested Busquets as Kroos arrested De Jong. Kessié and Gavi, more legionnaires than subtle. On the right, Araujo, a marine who doesn’t have Bolshoi feet, was quite busy disarming Vinicius, who was being assisted by Rapinha. Madrid hugged their opponents but lacked finesse despite Modric’s expansive delivery. On the other bank, the bugle of Valverde. In full white shock, Benzema scored but out of place. The Azulgrana, with Marcos Alonso center stage for the battered Christensen, on the scaffold. A Barcelona night for pickaxe and shovel, piecework without his beloved ball. A demanding test of patience for Madrid, which they lacked more than necessary in a game with so many fireworks. Uneasy, especially when away goals are no longer worth double.
Vinicius, reined in by Araujo, Ancelotti’s team had a hard time loitering around the area. The attacks were closed on the periphery of Ter Stegen, more alarmed than requested. Barça were showered with corner after corner, but there was no rival who could take them down. The meeting was from Koundé, from Araujo, from Marcos Alonso. In addition, Real could shake everything because Rapinha and Ferran, also in the trenches, did not reach out to Xavi’s men. His starting point was many blocks from Courtois.
Xavi’s men were so overcast that Ancelotti withdrew a winger – Nacho – to give the thread to a striker – Rodrygo. Camavinga placed himself on the left of the rear guard, Valverde turned inside and Rodrygo put his shoes on as a winger on the right. Xavi intervened and as soon as the attack was changed – Ansu as a forward, Ferran as a winger and Rapinha in the dark room – Barça led 0-2. This time the rebound favored Madrid. Ferran quoted Kessié, whose shot was about to hit the net when Ansu, the white saver, intervened.
Álvaro also joined the Madrid Brigade as Real went and went by air. But Barcelona cleared in big crowds, well equipped, armored Ter Stegen offering 0-1 in 1-0 and vice versa. Another Barça, the orphan of the ball. And a Madrid with more drums than explosives.
At the Camp Nou, on April 5th, another uncertain classic to seal the second finalist. Nothing is closed. And in football, a month-long break is an orbit.
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