Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Copa del Rey semi-final 1st leg highlights: Benzema and Vinicius have wreaked havoc thus far. (Reuters Photo) Benzema and Vinicius have wreaked havoc thus far. (Reuters Photo) Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Copa del Rey semi-final 1st leg highlights: Real Madrid dominated the first hour of the match and since petered off due to a combined effect of tired legs and the introduction of Lionel Messi in the last half an hour. They scored within the first five minutes through Lucas Vazquez after some brilliant buildup by Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema. Barcelona stepped up the pressure and it was in the second half that they got the reward. Malcom, who led the attack for the home side for much of the first half, was the goalscorer. It was then a game of chess from both managers and Real carry the away goal advantage into the second leg.<doc-sep>22 Arturo Vidal from Chile of FC Barcelona scoring his first goal with FC Barcelona during the Spanish championship La Liga football match "El Classico" between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad on October 28, 2018 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Barcelona host Real Madrid in the second Clasico of the season as they battle over two legs for the chance to reach the Copa del Rey final. The latest instalment of the heated rivalry lacks the edge of previous years as Real Madrid lack the fear factor this season due to their inconsistency as well as the 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Barcelona at Camp Nou earlier in the season. Barcelona started the season in unconvincing fashion as their defensive leakiness was causing them to drop points and they were essentially outscoring opponents rather than controlling games. This has changed in recent months with seven clean sheets in the last 15 matches. They only lost twice during that period and both those deficits were overcome at home in previous rounds of the Copa del Rey. Los Blancos will be a much tougher opponent, though. Expected Starting XI (4-3-3) Marc-Andre ter Stegen Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arthur Melo Malcom, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho Jasper Cillessen will, unfortunately, miss both legs due to picking up an injury in training, although he will be back for the final if Barca are able to progress. This is a huge blow for him as these matches were set to be the biggest of his season, but Ter Stegen is an excellent replacement. Semedo should start over Sergi Roberto due to how effective in 1v1 situations which will be important against the tricky Vinicius who is a key source of inspiration for Real. The willingness of Gareth Bale or whoever plays on the right-wing to track back will be important as Alba was given free rein in the previous Clasico and he wreaked havoc down that flank. His link up with Coutinho will be key in creating holes down that side. The likely absence of Messi does limit his threat due to how effective the Argentine is at combining with him, but he could be used as a substitute. Arthur will be important in setting the tempo and dictating proceedings by ensuring build-up is smooth from back to front alongside Busquets. Rakitic adds dynamism as he can break up attacks, press high up the pitch effectively and support attacks with his off-the-ball runs among other things. Ernesto Valverde is unlikely to risk Messi from the start if he isn’t fully fit, so Malcom should take his place on the right-wing which is his preferred position as he can cut inside on to his favoured foot. Expect the Argentine to make an appearance off the bench, though, especially if Barca are struggling. Suarez will be leading the line as usual and the team will need him to step up in the absence of their talisman. A repeat of his performance in the previous Clasico, where he bagged a hat-trick, would be ideal as he tormented Sergio Ramos and the Real back line. Coutinho needs a standout performance in this match if he is to hold on to a starting place as Ousmane Dembele is due back and the Brazilian has done little so far to convince. He needs to add an element of unpredictability to his play in the final third and link up better with his teammates if he is to keep that starting role.<doc-sep>Ernesto Valverde feels Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid will be a "fascinating tie." Following Friday's draw for the last four, the clubs will meet at the Nou Camp in the first leg next Wednesday, with the return clash then taking place on February 26. The second leg is four days before they meet once more at the Bernabeu in LaLiga. Barca boss Valverde, whose table-toppers host Valencia in the league on Saturday, was quoted by Marca as saying on Friday: "It will be a great tie between two great teams who are both fighting to win LaLiga and the Champions League. "All of this makes for an excellent spectacle for both the teams and the fans alike. It is bound to be a fascinating tie and it will be interesting to see who makes it through to the final. Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? Show all 16 1 /16 Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? Borussia Dortmund Group A winners Getty Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? Atletico Madrid Group A runners-up Getty Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? Barcelona Group B winners Getty Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? Tottenham Hotspur Group B runners-up Getty Champions League last 16: Who has qualified? 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Manchester United Group H runners-up Getty "They were going through a poor run of form in the league but they have turned it around and we know that it will be a tough match." The last meeting between the clubs was Barca's 5-1 league triumph at the Nou Camp on October 28 - what proved Real's last match before sacking boss Julen Lopetegui. With Santiago Solari now at the helm, the European champions - third in the table, 10 points adrift of Barcelona - have played 11 league games, winning eight of them. That includes victories in each of the last three as they bounced back from a 2-0 home loss against Real Sociedad. They and Barca are joined in the Copa Del Rey semis by Valencia, who will take on Real Betis. Valencia's 3-1 quarter-final second-leg victory over Getafe on Tuesday came three days on from a 3-0 league win against Villarreal. Valverde is looking forward to the challenge (EPA) Valverde - whose men are five points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid after winning their last eight league games - said of seventh-spotted Los Che: "Valencia are once again looking very good in front of goal. "It reminds me of how they were last year; they started the season in fine form. "Their approach has been very similar this year and they look a lot more confident in front of goal and they are taking their chances and climbing the table."<doc-sep>
Match Preview The first El Clasico of 2019 takes place Wednesday night at the Camp Nou, the first leg of this Copa del Rey semi-final. Trying to forget the first Clasico this season in Barcelona, Real Madrid have definitely improved much since that October embarrassment. Real have been on a tear as of late, winning their last five matches across all competitions. This will be their biggest challenge of not only the Copa del Rey, but of 2019 so far. Lionel Messi is still a doubt, included in the squad but still a match decision that will be made likely close to the starting whistle. Even if he doesn’t feature, Barcelona are a dangerous as we saw in the first El Clasico without Messi, which included a hat trick by Luis Suarez. Real are going to need their best to show up at the Camp Nou, they can’t afford to concede too much, which luckily has not been a problem as of late. Benzema and Vinicius will be look at to continue their great form as well. Injuries/Suspensions Real Madrid will still be without Jesus Vallejo, other than that they are fully fit for the first time in a long time. Barcelona are still without Samuel Umtiti and Rafinha. They are now without Jasper Cillessen, who was recently announced as missing the next six weeks of play. A big loss for them, as he has been great for Barca in the Copa del Rey. And, of course, Messi is still a game-time decision. There are no suspensions for either side in Wednesday’s Clasico. Potential XIs Real Madrid Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Vinicius, Benzema Navas started the last Copa match, but it’ll be interesting to see who Solari goes with since this is such a big match. Kroos was rested over the weekend so he should be ready to go against Barcelona as a starter. The other question is who starts on the left side on Wednesday night. Solari may start Bale, but he could also use him as a super-sub late in the match. The other options to start instead of Bale of course would be Vazquez or even Asensio. Barcelona Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Messi(? ), Coutinho, Suarez Prediction Barcelona-Real Madrid 3-3 This might end up being a high scoring match, given that Barcelona score a lot and Real have been much better in the way of goals as of late. Real can use tomorrow’s match as a way to get a couple of away goals, which can always end up crucial. As said before, Benzema and Vinicius will be looked towards to contribute at the same level they have been. Their forms could end up making a huge difference that just wasn’t there back in October. Needless to say, this is a huge match and the stakes of the round in the Copa del Rey have been infinitely raised. Two Clasicos over two legs is something great to witness and will hopefully yield a much better result than a 5-1 loss for Real. It’s certainly not easy, this is the toughest Real have had it in this competition. They have to be ready for an absolute war on Wednesday night and seek redemption. And if the stakes weren’t high enough, there’s the Derbi Madrileño awaiting this weekend as well. This is where Real need to prove they’ve turned things around and can play alongside the two best in Spain this season.