PREVIEW: Real Madrid v FC Barcelona
Barça head to the Santiago Bernabéu looking to get a result which will see them into their sixth Copa del Rey final in succession. This match is the second of three Clásico fixtures in less than a month, the third of which comes just 72 hours after the conclusion of this edition. Positive outcomes at Real Madrid's stadium over the last decade will ensure that the Blaugrana approach the game in a relaxed frame of mind. It will be Lionel Messi's 40th Clásico, a fixture in which he already has a record-breaking 26 goals, and Ernesto Valverde's 100th match in charge of the Blaugrana.
How to follow the game live
The game kicks off at 9.00pm CET. A list of broadcasters can be found here and these are the timetables for the rest of the world:
The rival
Top scorer: Karim Benzema (11 goals)
Coach: Santiago Solari
En route to the semi final, Real Madrid have scored 21 goals and conceded just six; against Melilla (1), Leganés (1), Girona (3) and Barcelona (1).
Current form
#3 Real Madrid —> W D W W L W
#1 Barça —> D D D W D W
Interesting stats
- In the last 21 El Clásico fixtures to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu in all competitions, stretching back to 2004, FC Barcelona have failed to score on only two occasions.
- Of those 21 matches, Barça have won 11, drawn three and lost seven, however, the Blaugrana have been defeated at Madrid's stadium just once in the last four years.
- On four of their last five visits, Barça have scored at least three goals, and any repeat of those results (0-3, 2-3, 2-3 and 0-4) would ensure qualification to the final.
The squad
Arthur and Jasper Cillessen are back in the squad after their return from injury.
FULL SQUAD INFO! More details on Ernesto Valverde's squad for #ElClásico.
Coaches' viewpoints
Real Madrid coach Santi Solari: “This is the semi-final of the Copa, it is the return leg, the first leg is done. It was a great game and I hope we'll see something similar tomorrow. In the second half of the first leg we did really well, particularly the end, and when we scored that goal. We got a favourable result."
Barça boss Ernesto Valverde on reaching 100 games as coach on Wednesday: "I would love to celebrate it with a victory and getting through in the Copa del Rey. I didn't know about the figure but it is a stand out fixture."