In a highly-anticipated match, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinal with an impressive 4-0 victory. This win sees Real Madrid advance to the final where they will face Osasuna, a team they are heavily favored to defeat.
Benzema leads the charge for Real Madrid
The star of the game was undoubtedly Karim Benzema, who scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid and also assisted in one of the goals. The French striker’s clinical finishing proved to be too much for Barcelona’s defense to handle.
Real Madrid started off strong, with Vinicius Junior scoring a late first-half goal. However, it was Thibaut Courtois who made a crucial save that led to the opening goal, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Benzema then scored from open play soon after the restart and then extended Madrid’s second-leg lead to three from the spot. The second half proved to be completely one-sided as Real Madrid dominated with their cup pedigree on full display.
Real Madrid turn around a deficit
This win is all the more impressive considering that Real Madrid were trailing 1-0 after the first leg of the semifinal. However, they turned things around convincingly at home and booked their place in the final against Osasuna.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team ended their losing streak against Barcelona in El Clasico matches and showed that they are still a force to be reckoned with in Spanish football despite trailing Barca by 12 points in La Liga.
Referee Juan Martinez Munuera officiates with VAR
The referee for this highly contentious match was Juan Martinez Munuera, who is widely regarded as one of the top referees in Spain and a specialist in VAR. This was his third Clasico match, having previously overseen one win for Real Madrid and one for Barcelona.
Despite some controversy surrounding the officiating, Munuera managed to keep the game under control and allowed for a fair match to be played. The winner of this match will face Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final on May 6th.
Benzema named Player of the Match
In addition to his hattrick and assist, Benzema was also named the Player of the Match, cementing his status as one of Real Madrid’s key players this season. Real Madrid dominated the player ratings, with most of their players scoring above 7.
Real Madrid had only lost one of their last six games at the Camp Nou in all competitions, and they showed their class in this game. While Barcelona remains 12 points ahead of Real Madrid in La Liga, they missed out on the chance to win the domestic double.
In conclusion, Real Madrid’s impressive victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinal has sent a clear message to their rivals that they are still a force to be reckoned with in Spanish football. With their eyes set on lifting the Copa del Rey trophy, they will undoubtedly be a tough challenge for Osasuna when they meet in the final.
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