Real Madrid emerged victorious against high-flying
crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid in their first-leg Copa del Rey
semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real took the lead on 17 minutes through Portuguese defender Pepe, whose long-range strike deflected off Emiliano Insua, wrong-footing Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois and finding its way into the back of the net.
Angel Di Maria played a sublime pass through to Jese Rodriguez early in the second half to double the home side’s lead, before another deflected goal, this time from Di Maria, secured a 3-0 victory for the Galacticos, who have yet to concede in the competition.
"I am completely satisfied with the match, everyone did fantastically,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We did everything right; we recovered the ball well and were very aggressive and compact.”Yet the Italian tactician knows his side still have the second-leg to play.
"The result is very good and the match was too, but we have to be careful,” he added. “We have to do the same in the second leg, but it will not be easy because Atlético Madrid will do their best to turn things around.”
In Wednesday night’s other semi-final, Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-0 at the Nou Camp to give them the advantage in the two-legged tie.Sergio Busquets gave Barca the lead just before halftime, after which Sociedad were reduced to 10 men following Inigo Martinez’s sending off for dissent. The hosts did not take advantage of their superior numbers in the second half, adding only one more goal through a bizarre own goal by the visitors.
Alexis Sanchez initially hit the post, before defender Gorka Elustondo smashed the clearance into his own goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai which then rebounded into the back of the net, giving Barca a 2-0 victory on the night.
Barca coach Gerardo Martino was happy with the win, but felt his side could have done more.
“It was a good game, we didn’t take any risks,” said the Argentine manager. “Today we didn’t dominate to the point that would allow us to think we could have killed off the tie.”
The second-leg of both semi-finals take place on February 12.
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