Barca Real Madrid Copa Del Rey 2023
Brie Hoffler
Barca looked set to their dominance for much of the first half, but a Thibaut Courtois save on one end led to a quick-hitting counterattack at the close of the opening 45 minutes, which finished with Vinicius flicking the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen to level the tie on aggregate just before the break.
"It's the first time for me with Madrid, very happy to reach a final," Courtois said after the match. "It was a difficult road. We went away to Villarreal, played Atletico at home and then a semifinal with Barca. We're there and we've won, we're happy to play another final.
"We kept playing as we were playing [in the first half]. In the Supercopa we didn't play well. At home in the cup, in the league we could have won. We had confidence, and today we finished well, above all at the start of the second half, making it 2-0, then the penalty and then finishing with the fourth, it was great.
With time running out for Xavi Hernandez's side, Benzema netted his third of the game after Vinicius played him into the area with a clever pass and left the France striker with only Ter Stegen to beat.
"It's a game in which personality and experience is a very important aspect. We mixed the energy of Rodrygo, [Federico] Valverde and [Eduardo] Camavinga with the experience of Vini, [Luka] Modric, [Toni] Kroos. They played a spectacular game."
\"It's the first time for me with Madrid, very happy to reach a final,\" Courtois said after the match. \"It was a difficult road. We went away to Villarreal, played Atletico at home and then a semifinal with Barca. We're there and we've won, we're happy to play another final.
\"We kept playing as we were playing [in the first half]. In the Supercopa we didn't play well. At home in the cup, in the league we could have won. We had confidence, and today we finished well, above all at the start of the second half, making it 2-0, then the penalty and then finishing with the fourth, it was great.
\"It's a game in which personality and experience is a very important aspect. We mixed the energy of Rodrygo, [Federico] Valverde and [Eduardo] Camavinga with the experience of Vini, [Luka] Modric, [Toni] Kroos. They played a spectacular game.\"
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid play this Wednesday from the 21:00 hours of the night contest the big final of the Glass of the King against Osasuna. The 'rojillos' classified this past Tuesday after empatar in the extention in front of the Athletic Club, that remained went after the 1-0 of the gone favourable to the rojillos. Therefore, culs or madridistas will confront to the ones of Jagoba Arrasate in the Cartuja of Seville on 6 May.
The Barcelona won in the gone by 0-1 in Santiago Bernabu, by what split with advantage in this turn of 'semis'. Besides, it is necessary to stand out the victory of the Catalans in front of the merengues to sentence LaLiga of does only something more than two weeks, also the one of the final of the Supercopa of Spain. They are in total three of four triumphs this season, by what is evident that the ones of Xavi Hernndez have him 'eaten' the morals to the ones of Carlo Ancelotti.
However, in a Classical there is not at all writing and is therefore by what to the Bara of at all goes him to cost have won thrice followed this course to the Madrid. The culs have to show that they are better in this turn copera if they want to be in the finalsima. For this, the trainer blaugrana has put in the field the eleven expected in front of the drops of Pedri, Dembl, Christensen and Frenkie of Jong. An alignment with four midfield players, as of habit in parties 'big', and with Marcos Alonso and Kessi like novelties regarding previous duels.
The same that in the Classical suspender belt, Xavi has gone back to bet by Sergi Roberto in the midfield, although in this occasion to his side will be Kessi and no Frenkie. The costamarfileo has an opportunity of gold to show that it is qualified to be headline and a lot of eyes will be put in him. By the other, is a XI without surprises reseables, since it expected to Marcos Alonso in the centre of the saga by the drop of Christensen. The mster of Terrassa has showed once again that trusts more in the ex of Chelsea that in Eric Garca, that was the another alternative that remained him.
By part of the Real Madrid, Ancelotti has bet surprisingly for planting to Eduardo Camavinga in the left side and by the 4-3-3, with Fede Valverde this time of interior and Rodrygo Goes of right extreme. Besides, in the centre of the defence will be David Praises in place of Antonio Rdiger, that will expect in the equal bench that Aurlien Tchouamni. The mediocentro French, that came playing well these last meetings after recovering of his injury, finally will not play of start by the presence of the binomial Toni Kroos/Luka Modric.
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