MX23RW : Monday, September 30 23:13:09| >> :120:4191:4191:

Real Madrid ease past Barcelona to reach Copa del Rey final

Madrid ease past Barca to reach Copa del Rey final
© PA Photos
Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice as Real Madrid end Barcelona's 22-match unbeaten stretch at home and reach the final of the Copa del Rey 4-2 on aggregate.

Real Madrid trounced Barcelona at the Camp Nou to win the El Clasico Copa del Rey semi-final 4-2 on aggregate this evening.

The two sides went into tonight's match level at one apiece after the reverse at the Bernabeu but Madrid's finishing proved far superior on the night as they ended Barca's 22-match unbeaten run.

Early on the home side threatened and Lionel Messi dragged a right-footed shot just wide from a tight angle inside 90 seconds.

Madrid had the opportunity to take a surprise lead in the 13th minute when Cristiano Ronaldo just had Gerard Pique to beat and did a pair of stepovers to put the Spaniard off-balance before sprinting past him and tumbling under his sliding challenge.

The Real number seven picked himself up and sent Jose Manuel Pinto the wrong way to put Los Blancos in front.

Barcelona had a pair of penalty appeals waved away by referee Alberto Undiano before Messi fired a free kick around the wall but just wide of the post before the break.

The hosts continued to hold most of the possession at the start of the second period but Real stunned them with a quickfire counter-attack to go two ahead and effectively kill off the tie.

Xabi Alonso volleyed clear a Barca attack and Angel di Maria collected the ball and jinxed inside and out to put Carles Puyol on his backside before seeing his shot kept out by Pinto.

However, the loose ball popped up for Ronaldo who chested down and rolled it into the net from a few yards.

Ten minutes later it was three when athletic centre-back Raphael Varane rose above Pique to head Mesut Ozil's corner in off the underside of the crossbar.

Because of away goals, that meant Barcelona required four goals in the final 20 minutes.

It looked as if they wouldn't find a consolation at all but Jordi Alba poked home Andres Iniesta's inch-perfect pass from a narrow angle in the 89th minute.

Madrid will go on to face either Atletico Madrid or Sevilla, who contest their second leg with Atletico leading 2-1 tomorrow, in the final.

ID:71417: cacheID:71417:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4231:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal against Celta Vigo on January 9, 2013
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Ronaldo penalty puts Madrid ahead in Clasico
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
12.30am
Titans
@
Dolphins
1.15am
Seahawks
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona87012591621
2Real Madrid85301761118
3Villarreal85211715217
4Atletico MadridAtletico8440124816
5Athletic Bilbao8422128414
6Mallorca842286214
7Osasuna84221213-114
8Real BetisBetis833287112
9Rayo Vallecano824298110
10Celta Vigo83141515010
11AlavesAlaves83141112-110
12GironaGirona8233911-29
13Sevilla8233810-29
14Real Sociedad822467-18
15Getafe814356-17
16Leganes814359-47
17Espanyol8215712-57
18Valencia8125513-85
19Real ValladolidValladolid8125417-135
20Las PalmasLas Palmas8035916-73


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!