Real Madrid-Barcelona is a match in the first leg of the King’s Cup semi-finals and is played on Thursday at 21:00: free to air TV, fixtures, predictions.
It may be a cup clásico – or copero, as they say in Spain – but the truth is that the (eternal) challenge between Real Madrid and Barcelona would not lose fascination even if it were only a friendly. This time it is the King’s Cup that is the battleground between the Merengues and the Blaugrana, who will come face to face three more times in the space of just over a month. The season’s precedents, meanwhile, are already two: the first was staged in the league, the second in the Spanish Super Cup.
Last October, in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti’s side prevailed 3-1, taking advantage of a moment of crisis for their rivals, still probably shaken by that 3-3 draw in the Champions League with Inter that had effectively written the end of their adventure in the cup with the big ears. With the passing of the months, many things have changed. Barça took the lead in the league and took revenge in the last act of the Super Cup Final Four played in January in Saudi Arabia, beating the European champions with the same result with which they had been defeated at the ‘Bernabeu’. The inertia now seems to be back on the side of Real Madrid, who have regained continuity and are dreaming of a resounding comeback in La Liga: seven points currently separate the two Spanish bigs. It seemed that Barcelona had already mortgaged the title but never give up on the Blancos.
Three heavy absences for Xavi
The Blaugrana were clearly affected by their elimination from the Europa League through Manchester United. The defeat suffered at Old Trafford was their first in 2023 and it was immediately followed by their first thud in the league, which ended their long unbeaten run. Last Sunday, Xavi’s team lost at home to Almeria (1-0) in what for the Catalan coach was his men’s worst performance of the season.
Ancelotti and Xavi
Real Madrid, on the other hand, were stopped in the Madrid derby by Diego Simeone’s Atletico after the fantastic night at Anfield and the historic 2-5 with Liverpool. It was an unbelievable game against the Colchoneros, which the Merengues almost lost despite the numerical superiority. What saved the Blancos from certain defeat was the class of ’04 Alvaro Rodriguez, courageously thrown into the fray by Ancelotti. The Italian coach will have to do without Alaba, Mendy and Rodrygo in this Clásico. But at the same time he will be able to field the starting midfield, formed by Modric, Kroos and Tchouaméni. Heavy absences in attack for Xavi. There is no Lewandowski, who injured his knee with Almeria, but Pedri and Dembélé will also be missing. In the attacking trident there will be space for Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Gavi. Finally, some statistical data. This will be the 252nd meeting between the two teams, and the last six previous meetings have ended with a victory on each side. There will undoubtedly be great balance in these two semi-finals as well.
The Prediction
Of only eight goals conceded in the league, Barcelona conceded three in the first leg against Real Madrid. This is enough to understand how the Merengues’ attack, if inspired, is capable of putting the best defence in La Liga to the test. Of the two, the one who seems to be better off at the moment is Ancelotti’s team, who start as slight favourites. In any case, it will be a very balanced match and the feeling is that the qualification will be decided in the return match at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid-Barcelona line-up probables
- REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho; Modric, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius.
- BARCELONA (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Araujo, Koundé, Christensen, Balde; Busquets, Kessié, de Jong; Gavi, Ferran Torres, Raphinha.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
