AP, Madrid :
Real Madrid couldn’t put Barcelona away when it had the chance, and ended up being dealt a hard blow by its biggest rival.
In the first of two consecutive games between the Spanish powerhouses at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Barcelona weathered a dominant first half by Madrid and then scored three times after the break for a 3-0 win Wednesday and a spot in the Copa del Rey final for a sixth straight season.
“I have to admit that we didn’t play very well in the first half,” said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde after his 100th match in charge. “We scored three goals but didn’t have that many chances. It happens sometimes.” Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona advanced 4-1 on aggregate after being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the semifinals at Camp Nou three weeks ago. The Catalan club also benefited from an own goal by Madrid defender Raphael Varane. “They were a lot more efficient than we were,” Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari said. “We created many chances but couldn’t score. They scored with their first shot on goal, and then with their second shot on goal. They hurt us when they had their chance.”
Barcelona will be trying to win an unprecedented fifth straight Copa title in the May 25 final in Seville.
Madrid hasn’t made it to the Copa final since it won its last title in 2014 against Barcelona. It hasn’t defeated its rival in five matches in all competitions, since the Spanish Super Cup in 2017.
