Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona: Luis Suarez scores cheeky Panenka to seal clasico Copa del Rey win
Barca, competition winners for the past four seasons, were held 1-1 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and were second best for large periods in the return before running out convincing 4-1 aggregate winners
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Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona maintained their stranglehold on the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win at Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final.
Barca, competition winners for the past four seasons, were held 1-1 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and were second best for large periods in the return before running out convincing 4-1 aggregate winners.
Suarez struck against the run of play early in the second half and after Raphael Varane’s own goal left Real a mountain to climb, the Uruguay striker converted a penalty, Panenka-style, to silence the Bernabeu.
Real banished memories of their 5-1 La Liga defeat to Barca in September by shading the first leg earlier this month, but the visitors were clinical in the Spanish capital to seal a sixth successive final appearance.
The home side were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty by the video assistant referee in the 14th minute.
Vinicius Junior’s tumble in the penalty area after Nelson Semedo’s challenge was referred back to VAR by match official Sanchez Martinez, who had initially appeared unmoved, but play continued.
Real’s best early efforts in a frenetic opening came through Vinicius Junior, who fired over the crossbar and had another shot saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Vinicius’ pace was causing the visitors problems. The Brazilian set up Karim Benzema, whose shot was comfortably saved by Ter Stegen, and then fired just over after another swift Real counter.
Barca had their moments in a goalless first half without creating a clear-cut chance, but Real, clearly intent on not relying on their away goal advantage, shaded it as the pace of an end-to-end encounter was unrelenting.
Benzema headed Toni Kroos’s free-kick narrowly over soon after the restart and at the other end Gerard Pique was off target with a similar effort from Lionel Messi’s set piece.
Barca then stunned the Bernabeu by snatching the lead in the 50th minute.
Suarez appeared well covered by Sergio Ramos when Ousmane Dembele’s cut back from the left reached him inside the area, but he shimmied to create space and side-footed home an emphatic finish.
The Uruguay striker maintained his impressive record at the Bernabeu by scoring his 17th goal in 18 visits.
There was no let-up. Barca were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Ivan Rakitic appeared to be fouled by Ramos, while Real were denied an equaliser by Ter Stegen’s brilliance as he kept out Sergio Reguilon’s header.
Vinicius went close again for the home side when his run carried him into the area, but his deflected shot curled agonisingly wide.
Barca, outplayed for long periods, then dealt Real a hammer blow with their second goal on the night.
Dembele again was the provider as his precision pass into the area from the right was turned into his own net by the sliding Varane, who was under pressure from Suarez.
Barca sealed their place in the final when Suarez was fouled by Casemiro on the left edge of the box and then dinked home his spot-kick straight down the middle.
PA
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In case you're not aware, away goals do count tonight, and we could go to extra-time and penalties if needed.
Lionel Messi is appearing in his 40th El Clasico tonight.
My favourite Messi moment in this great fixture was his wonderful individual goal in the 2011 Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu, helping his side to the final that year at Wembley, where they were victorious.
Not long to go now until the action gets underway at the Santiago Bernabeu!
This spotted in the crowd ahead of kick-off - very good.
KICK-OFF: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona
We're underway in El Clasico - do not miss a minute!
2 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona
A late challenge by Casemiro on Ousmane Dembele early on certainly sets the tone!
Barcelona, as you would expect, dominating possession early on, with Real quite happy to allow them the ball in their own half.
5 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona
Karim Benzema accelerates towards the Barca box, and feeds Vazquez but his touch is a tad heavy, allowing the Barca defence to eventually clear.
7 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona
Good early spell for Real this.
There's space out wide for both wingers, but both Vinicius Jr. and Vazquez just lacking that end product so far.
8 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona
First bit of action in the Real box!
Dembele's chipped cross to the far post finds Luis Suarez, whose volley across goal to Sergi Roberto is just about cleared by Sergio Reguilon.
Real clear from the subsequent corner.
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