Barcelona vs Real Madrid. Spanish Copa del Rey Semi-Final.
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Thursday 7 February 2019 05:53, UK
Malcom's second-half strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Barcelona as Real Madrid proved every bit their equal in a frantic Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg encounter at the Nou Camp.
With Lionel Messi only fit enough to start on the bench, Barcelona's captain could only watch on as Lucas Vazquez gave Real an early lead (6) in the second Clasico of the season.
Barca responded after the break through Malcom (57), but even with Messi introduced midway through the half, Real managed to subdue rather than succumb to the Argentine.
Substitute Gareth Bale even spurned a late chance to hand Real victory, but Santiago Solari's side will be buoyed by their performance ahead of the return leg at the Bernabeu in three weeks' time - particularly as they lost 5-1 away to their great rivals just four months ago.
Real's fast start was rewarded after just six minutes when Vazquez steered in Karim Benzema's cross, and the visitors could have doubled their lead, only for Vinicius Junior to see his effort blocked by Gerard Pique.
With Messi on the bench, Barca's front three of Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Malcom took a while to get into their stride, and the latter was guilty of squandering a one-on-one opportunity before Ivan Rakitic headed against the bar.
Keylor Navas was then at full stretch to deny Suarez as Barca grew in confidence, but Real still looked dangerous on the break as the half drew to a close, with Vinicius seeing an ambitious volley blocked.
Barca levelled 12 minutes after the break when Suarez's effort from a narrow angle hit the post and ended up with Malcom, who squeezed his effort in while Navas was absent having chased down the initial ball - Ramos did himself no favours, meanwhile, outstretching his arms to signal the effort was going wide.
Messi's introduction initially gave the hosts a lift, but while no chances fell his way, he was able to play in Carlos Alena, but he failed to test Navas.
Real ended the game on top, and could have taken a one-goal advantage to the Bernabeu, but after Marc-Andre ter Stegen chested the ball into the path of Benzema, the forward opted to pass to Bale instead of shoot. With the goalkeeper out of his goal the Welshman's touch let him down before his eventual effort deflected wide.
A typically bullish performance from Real's captain, and all the more so having spent 80 minutes of the game on a yellow card.
Ramos' judgement let him down for Barca's equaliser, but overall he was more than a match for Suarez, and even frustrated Messi when he entered play.
With the return leg three weeks away, attention turns to the league. Leaders Barca head to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, while Real are in derby action against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
