Real Madrid and Barcelona revealed their starting lineups for the first leg of the Spanish Cup semi-finals, with kickoff set for 23:00 Moscow time. The official lists signal a strategic clash between two European giants, each fielding a familiar mix of seasoned veterans and dynamic young talents. The atmosphere promises a tense, high-stakes encounter where tactical nuance could tip the balance in a tightly contested tie.
Real Madrid lineup: Courtois, Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Nacho, Camavinga, Modric, Kroos, Vinicius, Valverde, Benzema. This starting XI blends the veteran leadership of Modric and Kroos with the pace and progressive play of Vinicius and Valverde, anchored by Courtois between the posts. The defensive four in front of the goalkeeper combines experience and reliability in Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, and Nacho, while Camavinga assumes a pivotal role in midfield alongside the evergreen Kroos and the orchestrating presence of Modric. The attack is spearheaded by Benzema, supported by a fluid frontline that aims to exploit spaces behind Barcelona’s back line.
Barcelona lineup: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Busquets, Gavi, Torres, Alonso, Kessier, De Jong, Rafinha, Kunde, Balde. Barcelona brings a mix of solidity and youthful energy. Ter Stegen provides security in goal, while the central spine features Araujo and Busquets at the back, with the exuberant ball progress of Gavi and the drive of De Jong in the middle. Up front, Torres and Rafinha offer width and creativity, with Balde providing pace on the opposite flank and Kunde contributing as a versatile full-back option. The midfield pairing of Kessier and De Jong is tasked with controlling tempo and feeding the attackers with incisive passes, while Alonso adds another layer of experience to the engine room.
The second leg is scheduled for April 5 in the Catalan capital, promising a different tactical chess match as home advantage could play a decisive role. In the other semi-final matchup, Osasuna will square off against Athletic, after Osasuna secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg. That result sets the stage for a competitive second leg where minimal margins can decide advancement to the final.
In La Liga, Barcelona currently sits atop the table after 23 rounds, maintaining a slim lead over Real Madrid, who are seven points adrift in second place. The standings reflect a season of intense competition, with both clubs trading results and facing rival teams who are hungry for silverware. The gap underscores how every league point and every domestic cup game matters in the broader battle for domestic supremacy and European qualification. Fans in both camps will be watching closely as the remaining fixtures unfold, hoping their team can build momentum in time for the business end of the season.
Former Russian international striker Dmitry Bulykin recently commented that the latest European results would not alter Real Madrid and Barcelona’s approach to El Clasico. His perspective highlights a belief among some analysts that the rivalry, driven by history and player quality, maintains its own momentum regardless of fluctuations in other competitions. El Clasico remains more than a rivalry; it is a measure of identity, club philosophy, and the ability to perform under pressure in big moments.
In the 1/16 final of the Europa League, Barcelona exited the competition after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester United. The first leg finished 2-2, but Manchester United edged through with a 2-1 win in the return leg on home soil. By contrast, Real Madrid advanced from the 1/8 final of the Champions League after a dominant 5-2 away win against Liverpool in the first leg, though they couldn’t replicate that form at home in the second game, finishing with a 0-2 result that narrowed their aggregate advantage. These results illustrate the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs in European knockout ties, shaping expectations for their domestic cup showdown and the rest of the season as both teams aim to maximize silverware this campaign.