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Copa del Rey: Barcelona reach cup final

  1. Suarez double and Varane own goal give Barca win
  2. First leg was 1-1 at Nou Camp
  3. Sides meet again on Saturday in La Liga
Football

What happened in the first leg?

Malcom’s spectacular equaliser earned Barcelona a draw against Real Madrid at the Nou Camp.

Real went ahead through Lucas Vazquez in the sixth minute following a brilliant assist from Karim Benzema.

Holders Barcelona, who started without Lionel Messi, had stuttered in attack despite the efforts of a bright Malcom.

The former Bordeaux forward pounced for the equaliser in the 57th minute following a scrappy period of play which saw Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas block a charging run from Jordi Alba.

Lucas Vazquez

This is the 241st meeting of these teams. Real have won 95, with Barca on 94. The quick mathematicians among you will realise that means there have been 51 draws.

A 0-0 draw takes Real Madrid into the final. 1-1 and it’s extra time. 2-2, 3-3 etc and Barca go through on away goals.

Team news

Real Madrid v Barcelona

Two changes for Real Madrid from their 2-1 win over Levante. Sergio Ramos is back from suspension and takes over from Nacho. Keylor Navas starts, as he usually does in the Copa del Rey, with Thibaut Courtois dropping out.

Gareth Bale is on the bench, which is pretty standard these days.

 Barcelona make three changes from their 4-2 win over Sevilla. Ousmane Dembele, Clement Lenglet and Sergi Roberto are in for Philippe Coutinho, Samuel Umtiti and Arturo Vidal.

Lionel Messi keeps his place as you’d expect following his hat-trick on Saturday.

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