Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Preview 02/03/2023

Actual Madrid vs FC Barcelona – 02/03/2023

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The Santiago Bernabeu is the stage for the primary leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final showdown between arch-rivals Actual Madrid and Barcelona on Thursday.

The winner of the tie will face the victor of the opposite semi-final between Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao at Seville’s Estadio La Cartuja on Might 6.

With first-placed Barcelona main second-placed Actual Madrid by seven factors within the La Liga desk, Thursday’s conflict is destined to be a close-fought battle.

Actual Madrid head into the primary leg on the again of a 1-1 draw in opposition to Atletico Madrid, with teenager Alvaro coming off the bench to rescue a draw for Los Blancos.

Carlo Ancelotti’s males have now prevented defeat in every of their final six outings throughout all competitions and have solely misplaced one among their earlier 12.

Funnily sufficient, Actual Madrid additionally beat Atletico to succeed in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, following victories over Cacereno and Villarreal within the early rounds.

Having misplaced simply one among their previous six Copa del Rey encounters, Los Blancos will probably be assured of avoiding defeat on Thursday.

As for Barcelona, they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Almeria final trip – regardless of racking up 73% possession and 13 photographs away from dwelling.

That was solely Barca’s second league defeat of the season, with 19 wins and two attracts serving to them open up a seven-point lead on the summit of the La Liga desk.

Xavi’s aspect kicked off their Copa del Rey marketing campaign with an extra-time victory over Intercity earlier than dispatching Ceuta and Actual Sociedad to succeed in the final 4.

On condition that Barcelona have scored over 1.5 targets in every of their final 4 Copa del Rey away outings, they need to have the ability to preserve tempo with Actual Madrid.

Head-to-head: It’s price noting that Barca have solely managed to win one among their earlier six Copa del Rey conferences with Los Blancos.

That stated, Xavi’s males have misplaced simply one among their final 4 matches in opposition to Actual Madrid in all competitions – profitable two of their earlier three.

Group information: Actual Madrid will probably be with out the injured duo of Rodrygo and David Alaba for the primary leg, whereas Ferland Mendy is a doubt.

On the flip aspect, Barcelona’s harm listing incorporates 4 key gamers – Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele.

Given that every of the final seven conferences between Actual Madrid and Barcelona have produced over 2.5 targets, we must always see loads of motion on Thursday.

Forebet predicts that Actual Madrid and Barcelona will play out high-scoring draw, with each groups netting over 1.5 targets.