Real Madrid and FC Barcelona battled to a 1-1 draw in the first-leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Barca enjoyed the majority of possession and took the leadin the 50th minute when Lionel Messi intercepted a clearance and passed to Cesc Fabregas, who finished low passed the onrushing DiegoLopez. Real searched for an equalizer and was ultimately rewarded in the 81st minute as 19-year-old man-of-the-match Rafael Varane headed home from a MesutOzil cross.
“It’s like a dream come true, incredible to score a goal like that against Barcelona at just 19,” Varane said after the game. “The second leg will be evenly matchedand we’re going to play a good game there to win.” Barca’s Fabregas was also pleased with the result. “This is obviously a good result; we are in the Bernabeu, a very tough field, and we willhave our own fans behind us for the return leg of the draw,” the former Arsenal midfielder said.
“I’m new here but I saw a very united and strong locker room,” Diego Lopez, who wassigned on Jan. 26 to provide cover for injured goalkeeper Iker Casillas, said. “We’re conscious this is a very tough rival, but we came out and showed our best side anddisplayed good ball control.”
Barcelona assistant coach coach Jordi Roura said the semifinal was always likely to be decided in the return leg. “These matches are alwaysdifficult and I had said that in all probability the semifinals would likely be decided in Barcelona and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.’’ Roura stepped in for head coach TitoVilanova, who is undergoing cancer treatment in the United States. The second-leg will be held at the Camp Nou on Feb. 27.