Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to face each other in the Copa del Rey semi-final clash. The two teams will renew their long-standing rivalry as they look to advance to the final of the prestigious competition.
The recent history between these two teams has been mixed, with both sides winning two games and one friendly in the past year. The most recent encounter between the two was in January 2023, where Barcelona emerged victorious with a scoreline of 3-1, thanks to goals from Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri. However, the Barcelona team that will take the field in the upcoming fixture is different, as they will be without some of their key players due to injury.
For more on that the Spanish Super Cup meeting:
Barcelona’s recent form has been mixed, with some good performances and some poor ones. Their last two games have been losses, to Almeria in La Liga and Manchester United in the Europa League. These losses have hurt the morale and confidence, and they will be looking to bounce back in this crucial fixture. However, with the absence of key goal scorers like Lewandowski and Pedri, they will have to rely on their other players to step up and perform.
In contrast, Real Madrid has been in good form, particularly in European competitions, but they have struggled in the domestic league. They are currently second in the La Liga standings, seven points behind Barcelona. The absences of Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, and David Alaba due to injury will be a concern for them, but they still have a strong squad to choose from.
The semi-final clash between Barça and Real Madrid promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to advance to the final. This game is the first of three encounters between the two teams in the next couple of months, with the two teams set to meet again in the league and the Copa del Rey.
A predicted XI for Barcelona was discussed on the latest edition of the podcast:
Barcelona and Real Madrid have a long and storied history, with their rivalry spanning decades. This fixture is always one of the most watched and anticipated games in world football, and it never fails to live up to the hype. With the Copa del Rey trophy on the line, both teams will be looking to give their all and emerge victorious.
By Kanak Chauhan
