Player ratings as Blaugrana take Copa del Rey aggregate lead

Barcelona will take a slender combination lead into the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final later this month after securing a 1-0 win over Actual Madrid on the Bernabeu on Thursday night time.

It was a distinctly useful efficiency from Xavi’s group relatively than the type of classic Barça he himself as soon as performed in. However it mattered little in the long run, with an Eder Militao personal objective within the first half deciding the opening 90 minutes of the tie.

Actual threatened to go forward inside the primary minute when Luka Modric sprinted ahead like somebody a lot youthful than 37. However as Jules Kounde got here again at him, the veteran Croatian might solely lash excessive into the facet netting from a narrowing angle.

Karim Benzema did have the ball within the web earlier than Barcelona took the lead, controlling it on his chest and swivelling to volley in multi functional fluid movement. Nonetheless, the offside flag accurately denied him what would have been a really high-quality objective.

Sloppiness on the ball from Eduardo Camavinga helped give the Catalans their lead halfway via the primary half. There was nonetheless work to do and Ferran Torres fed Franck Kessie, whose shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois however rebounded into the online off Militao. It was initially threatened with an offside flag, with VAR confirming that Kessie was certainly onside when the ball was performed.

Dani Carvajal had an inexpensive likelihood shortly earlier than half-time, connecting on the far put up with a diagonal Toni Kroos cross however unable to regulate the bold volley heading in the right direction. Valverde additionally tried to deceive Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a disguised cross – the Barça goalkeeper didn’t fall for it.

Ronald Araujo was deployed at right-back to cease Vinicius Junior any manner he might and pulled out a wonderful block to cease the Brazilian getting a possible equaliser quickly after the restart. The Barcelona defender was usually sticking to his man like glue.

Barça efficiently weathered a storm from the house facet because the hour mark got here and went with out ever actually giving up clear possibilities – Araujo and Kounde specifically defended exceptionally effectively. However they had been additionally rising in confidence too and one other Torres-Kessie mixture ought to have doubled the lead. A cutback to the latter produced a low end destined for the underside nook, just for it to strike substitute Ansu Fati and deflect large. Kessie was in disbelief.

Actual sub Rodrygo had Ter Stegen fearful sufficient within the last seconds of the 90 to dive throughout his objective in pursuit of a rasping drive. Ultimately it was off beam and finally summed up their night time.

GK: Thibaut Courtois – 6/10 – Did effectively to save lots of the primary try from Kessie. Not that invovled total.

RB: Dani Carvajal – 5/10 – Occupied a very excessive place on the precise, not that he did a lot.

CB: Eder Militao – 6/10 – Did not have time to readjust his legs because the ball got here again at him when Courtois saved Kessie’s preliminary shot. Defended effectively normally.

CB: Antonio Rudiger – 6/10 – Barcelona did not put collectively many assaults so many of the sport was performed in entrance of him.

LB: Nacho – 5/10 – Took a swing at making an attempt to clear the primary half objective and could not join. Sacrificed for tacital causes halfway via the second half.

CM: Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10 – Culpable for Barcelona’s first half objective with sloppy play. Disappointing as a result of he had loads of power and in any other case did effectively.

CM: Luka Modric – 5/10 – Kicked out within the first half and seemed annoyed. Had an early likelihood to attain however missed the goal from an honest place.

CM: Toni Kroos – 5/10 – Handed the ball rather a lot with out reaching or creating that a lot.

RW: Federico Valverde – 6/10 – All the time trying to probe and create possibilities. Did not fairly occur.

ST: Karim Benzema – 6/10 – Had the ball within the web with a elegant volley, solely to see a flag up. Did not have the service he would have needed after that.

LW: Vinicius Junior – 6/10 – Confirmed promise however by no means received the higher of Araujo.

Substitutes

SUB: Rodrygo (67′ for Nacho) – 5/10

SUB: Aurelien Tchouameni (74′ for Kroos) – 5/10

SUB: Alvaro Rodriguez (84′ for Modric) – N/A

Supervisor

Carlo Ancelotti – 5/10 – His facet did not appear to have the precise creativity however there have been no decisive options from the boss.

GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 8/10 – Actually calming and all the time accountable for each state of affairs.

RB: Ronald Araujo – 9/10 – Pushed to the precise, seemingly in an try to fight the tempo and agility of Vinicius. Received that battle each time.

CB: Jules Kounde – 9/10 – Defensive efficiency of the best order.

CB: Marcos Alonso – 7/10 – Repelled every thing that got here his manner.

LB: Alejandro Balde – 7/10 – Restricted the hazard that got here from his facet.

CM: Franck Kessie – 7/10 – Made the breakthrough objective doable with a driving run from deep.

CM: Sergo Busquets (c) – 7/10 – Held issues collectively in midfield and led by instance.

CM: Frenkie de Jong – 7/10 – Wanted to present a disciplined show and did.

RW: Raphinha – 6/10 – Provided a hazard on the break, however was carrying a yellow card and appeared somewhat leggy after the break.

ST: Ferran Torres – 7/10 – Did not see a great deal of the ball however made good use of it when he did. Created the primary half objective and nearly assisted a second in a while.

LW: Gavi – 7/10 – Concerned in some pushing and shoving within the second half. Labored laborious and put himself about to try to disrupt Actual, which was necessary.