Copa del Rey

Semi final, first leg

The second semi-final is also in the balance after Betis and Valencia drew 2-2 on Thursday. Both teams were especially motivated, the hosts as the final will be played in their Villamarín stadium, and the visitors as this is their centenary year. The locals went two up though, Loren opening the scoring on the stroke of half time after Sidnei headed the ball back following a corner, and Joaquín making it two soon after the restart with an inswinging corner which Jaume only got to after it had crossed the line. With twenty minutes to go however Cheryshev headed one back from Gameiro’s cross, and with the game in time added on Gameiro combined with Rodrigo to level the scores. (07.02.19)

Another “clásico” on Wednesday evening, this time in the cup semi-finals, Barcelona and Real Madrid leaving everything open for the second leg after a 1-1 draw in the Nou Camp. The visitors took the lead early on, Lucas Vázquez turning a shot past Ter Stegen after Benzema laid the ball back from the right by-line. Busquets headed against the bar though later in the first half, and with just under an hour on the clock Malcom equalised after a shot from Luis Suárez came back off the post. Messi (who had been rested after picking up a knock at the weekend) came on after that, but the scoreline remained unmoved. (06.02.19)