Barcelona and Real Madrid played out a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie on Wednesday night.
The home side, who have won this competition four seasons running, trailed inside the opening six minutes after Lucas Vazquez converted from close range.
Malcom equalised shortly before the hour mark, however, meaning that it is all to play for when they face off in the return fixture three weeks from now.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou. This is a competition that the home side have dominated in recent years, having lifted the cup in four successive seasons since losing to their bitter rivals in the 2013-14 final, which was memorable for a late solo goal from Gareth Bale.
Barca are also eight points better off than Real in the La Liga table after 22 matches, so they will be considered the slight favourites to make it through to the final, where one of Real Betis or Valencia await. There is no doubt which is the more high profile of the two semi-final ties, with this the first of three El Clasico showdowns in the space of a month. Without further ado, let us check out some confirmed team news...
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Malcom, Suarez, Coutinho
SUBS: Alena, Messi, Roberto, Boateng, Pena, Vidal, Murillo
The big news as far as Barcelona are concerned is that Lionel Messi misses out on a place in the starting lineup, deemed only fit enough for a place on the bench. The Argentinian forward picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw against Valencia last weekend and was deemed to be 50-50 for tonight's clash - it seems that Ernesto Valverde is erring on the side of caution for the start of a big run of matches in three competitions.
Messi's place in the side is taken by Malcom, who has flattered to deceive since arriving from Bordeaux last summer. The man on the other flank, ex-Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho, is another who has not exactly managed to hold down a starting spot since joining 13 months ago, but he produced arguably his best display yet in a Blaugrana top in the last round against Sevilla and will be looking to push on here after a flat display against Valencia four days ago.
Luis Suarez is tasked with leading the line for Barca, but Valverde will no doubt have wanted Messi and Ousmane Dembele either side, rather than Malcom and Suarez, even if the latter has improved. Elsewhere, Marc-Andre ter Stegen retains his place in goal as regular cup keeper Jasper Cillessen - another star performer in the 6-1 win over Sevilla last week - is out for six weeks with a calf injury. Thomas Vermaelen, Sergi Roberto, Carles Alena, Messi and Arturo Vidal all drop out; Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Arthur and Malcom are brought in.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Llorente, Modric; Vazquez, Benzema, Vinicius
SUBS: Courtois, Nacho, Bale, Casemiro, Asensio, Isco, Ceballos
Five alterations for Barcelona, then, and Madrid have made mass changes following their 3-0 win over Alaves on Sunday. In fact, only Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior retain their places in the side, with Santiago Solari making the most of his squad depth. Interestingly, Bale - the matchwinner in that memorable final nearly five years ago - drops to the bench as Vazquez is favoured.
Solari is clearly keen to keep Benzema and Vinicius Junior in the forward line, though, and the pair have started to form a good relationship in recent weeks. Reports in Spain today suggest that Madrid will hold off from making an approach for Christian Eriksen in the summer as they intend to retain faith in Modric and Marcos Llorente - well the latter has a big opportunity to show again tonight why he is so highly regarded by those within the club.
The visitors have pretty much a full squad to choose from today, as fringe players Luca Zidane and Jesus Vallejo are the only two absentees. Marcelo is restored at left-back having lost his place in recent weeks, while Dani Carvajal is used down the right and the regular pairing of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are selected in the heart of defence. As expected, Keylor Navas is given the nod over first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Lionel Messi is not fit enough to start this evening's first leg due to a knock picked up against Valencia last weekend, but he is at least included among the subs and could play some part. Barcelona make five changes from their most recent outing, while opponents Real Madrid have rotated eight players from the 3-0 win against Alaves three days ago - Bale among those to drop out of the side.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Barcelona have historically got the better of this famous fixture, winning 113 times compared to Real Madrid's 99 victories since the first meeting in 1929. The Catalan giants were 5-1 winners here in the most recent encounter a little over three months ago, with Luis Suarez netting a treble that day, and they are unbeaten in their last five matches with Los Blancos.
Madrid may have claimed bragging rights in the final five years ago, but Barcelona have dominated this competition ever since by winning it in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The reigning Spanish champions have defeated Sevilla twice in the final, including a resounding 5-0 triumph in last season's meeting, as well as seeing off Athletic Bilbao and Alaves. All in all they have lifted the cup a record 30 times.
That is 11 more Copa del Rey triumphs than Madrid, who have gone all the way on just two occasions since the mid-1990s - in 2011 and in 2014. There is no doubting Barcelona's reputation as domestic cup kings as they have now appeared in 23 successive rounds since last being knocked out by, as it turns out, Real Madrid in February 2013. There really is no stopping Valverde's men.
With either Betis or Valencia providing the competition in the May 25 final in Sevilla, the winners of this tie between Barca and Madrid will be considered strong favourites to lift the trophy, maintaining their stranglehold on the domestic cup. On current form Los Blancos have given themselves a decent shout of winning some silverware, but over the course of 2018-19 it is their opponents who have been the better side.
Barca are six points clear at the top of La Liga, despite dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Valencia last Saturday. That gave Real the chance to close the gap to eight points with their victory over Alaves, but Atletico Madrid could not do likewise as they suffered a rare loss in their meeting with Real Betis, so Valverde's side actually gained a point on their closest rivals in that thrilling 90-minute tussle with Valencia.
Messi was the hero of the day for Barca - not for the first time, of course - as he netted a penalty and then scored a long-range goal to snatch a 2-2 draw for his side after trailing 2-0 in the first half. The Catalan giants will be without their star man tonight, though, and there is no doubt that they are a weaker unit without him in their ranks. Still, that did not stop Barca winning 5-1 in the corresponding league fixture when Messi was absent with an arm injury.
The champions have now dropped points in seven of their 22 matches this season, but their 2-2 draw with Valencia was preceded by an eight-match winning run, scoring 23 goals and conceding just twice during that sequence. Valverde's side have been far from their best on many occasions this term, including in the draw with Los Che, yet they have managed to put together a strong run of form and they are the clear favourites to retain their title once again.
The four-in-a-row Copa del Rey champions suffered defeat in the first leg to Sevilla in the quarter-finals, but Valverde restored his big hitters for the return leg and was rewarded with a superb display, seeing his side prevail 6-1 on the night. That said, Ever Banega missed a penalty with his side 2-1 up on aggregate - or, to be a little more accurate, Cillessen produced a fine save - and the visitors also rattled the post, so the outcome could have been a lot different.
Levante also beat Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 tie, only for Valverde to again bring back Messi & Co. to get his side over the line. Lessons have clearly been learned as Valverde has named a very strong starting lineup today, and you can bet that Messi would have been included from the off had he been free of injury, too. The hosts know that they cannot really afford to be trailing, as was the case in the last two rounds, when they head to the Bernabeu.
There is a huge month ahead for Barcelona as they face Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey semi-final double-header, as well as taking on their bitter rivals in La Liga. There is also the small matter of a Champions League last-16 showdown with Lyon on the horizon, plus further league fixtures against Athletic Bilbao, Real Valladolid and Sevilla. As things stand, you would not rule out a famous treble for Barca come the end of May.
Real have hit a bit of form at long last by winning five matches in a row in all competitions, four of those coming in La Liga to drag themselves to within eight points of Barcelona and, perhaps more importantly at this stage, to within a couple of points of city rivals Atletico. The other win in that sequence came at Girona in the last round of the Copa del Rey to leave Solari in the hunt for silverware - just about - on three fronts.
Barca are surely too far ahead of Madrid to be caught, though, even if the sides do face off in the league in less than a month's time, so the Copa del Rey takes on added importance. The Champions League remains the holy grail for Los Blancos, and they have been dealt a difficult hand as they take on Ajax over two legs later this month. Come through these tests with Barcelona and Ajax and Solari may have done enough to keep hold of the job.
Solari was appointed on a caretaker basis on the back of Julen Lopetegui's sacking in October, coming on the back of the 5-1 loss to Barca in the league, and Florentino Perez took the decision to give him the job on a permanent basis a month later. That counts for little, however, and rumours of Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho being targeted are refusing to go away. All Solari can do is win matches and ultimately win some silverware to strengthen his cause.
Solari has taken charge of 23 matches since being placed in charge and has won 18 of those - a good return on the whole. There have been a few low points, namely the losses to Real Sociedad, CSKA Moscow and Eibar, but the ship has been steadied somewhat and Los Blancos are now on a positive run of form as we approach this critical point in the season. The target with three-and-a-half months of the season to go will be success in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
There is no denying that Madrid's squad is ageing and is in need of a overhaul, even if they have managed to paper over the cracks a little with five wins in a row. The form of Vinicius out wide is a major positive, as is the Benzema's return of six goals in four games and 18 goals for the season, but a number of positions require strengthening and a large amount of money will surely be spent.
That is for the summer, though - all Madrid can do between now and June is concentrate on retaining their Champions League crown, while at the same time pushing Barca all the way and breaking their rivals' stronghold on the Copa del Rey. They can go a long way to achieving the latter of those targets by picking up a victory on enemy territory today. Los Blancos' run to this stage has seen them overcome Melilla 10-1, Leganes 3-1 and Girona 7-3 on aggregate.
We will learn a lot more about Madrid in the coming weeks as they face Barcelona three times in two competitions, Ajax in the last-16 of the Champions League and Atletico Madrid are next up in La Liga. In what has been a poor season for the European champions, they are still well in the hunt for two major trophies and cannot quite be ruled out of the La Liga title race just yet.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS!
Ernesto Valverde: "It's an open tie, we have great players and they do too, some of the best in the world. It's a special game. It's a semi-final and playing against Madrid is another incentive to reach the final. At the Camp Nou, Real Madrid usually play good games and although in the league game we were superior and they were in a delicate emotional moment, we expect Madrid to be at their best."
Santiago Solari: "It is always good for football to have the best players playing all the games. It is a fact. "A Clasico is a game between two clubs with a big rivalry. It means to me River vs. Boca, Inter vs. Milan, Penarol vs. Nacional, San Lorenzo vs. Huracan and of course, it means Real Madrid vs. Barcelona. The fixture calendar is curious but we don't make it and we have to go out and play to our best. I hope that it isn't deliberate."
Valverde "expects Madrid to be at their best" this evening. In fairness, anything will be an improvement on the performance we saw here a few months ago when Barca ran out 5-1 winners, leading to Lopetegui's departure and Solari's appointment. The announcement that former player Solari will stay in charge for the rest of the season came as a surprise, but a return of 18 wins from 23 matches is not bad going and he now faces a truly massive month, starting with this first leg against Barca.
KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us underway at a packed Camp Nou. This is the first of three meetings between these bitter rivals in the space of a month - which of the heavyweight clubs will strike first blood in this Copa del Rey semi-final?
There have been a few stray passes in the early stages of the match. Vinicius attempts to make something happen down the left but is dispossessed. Coutinho looked to be through on goal but the offside flag rightly goes up.
Benzema is being tasked with pressing Barca's players high up the field. Despite doing that job well, though, Ter Stegen still has the ability to pick out Semedo with a perfect pass to start another attack from deep.
SAVE! Kroos puts his boot through the ball from 25 yards and Ter Stegen can only parry it back into a dangerous zone, but thankfully for the keeper it was one of his teammates who got to the loose ball first. Good attempt from the German midfielder.
GOAL! BARCELONA 0-1 REAL MADRID (LUCAS VAZQUEZ)
Barcelona's backline has not settled at all and Madrid have made them pay with an early goal. Vinicius sent in a cross to the back post which Benzema directed into the path of Vazquez to steer the ball into the far corner from four yards. First blood Madrid!
A poor start for Barca, then, and now the onus is on them to find a goal over the remaining 80 minutes. Solari, meanwhile, will want to see more of the same from his players - they seem well up for this one, with their 5-1 loss here still fresh in the memory.
YELLOW CARD! Ramos is shown the game's first yellow card for halting the run of Malcom, who would have been in behind if not for the contact. The Madrid skipper is fuming but it is easy to see why the referee reached into his pocket.
CHANCE! This defending from Barcelona has been terrible in the opening 15 minutes. Madrid work a three-on-two situation but Vinicius and Benzema make a bit of a mess of it, with the latter shooting into Pique when he could have slotted in his teammate.
Barca have seen more of the ball since Vazquez opened the scoring but they have yet to create anything. Madrid squandered a good opportunity to double their tally and it looks as though they will have plenty more chances to do so.
SHOT! Another stray pass from Barcelona is pounced on by Benzema, who carries the ball forward and tees up Vinicius. No idea what the Brazilian attacker was doing with his attempt, dragging the ball wide of the target. It did take a deflection off Pique, though, and a corner is awarded.
SAVE! Malcom is played onside by Marcelo and has just Navas to beat, but he is unable to get the better of Madrid's deputy keeper - a poor finish from a player lacking form. The offside flag went up but he was onside and VAR surely would have overruled the linesman.
That chance for Malcom was the first time that Barca have created anything of note tonight, and it is perhaps no surprise that Marcelo - who has been far from his best this term - was at fault. A few signs that the hosts are starting to build some momentum over the last three or four minutes.
SHOT! Vinicius plays in a first-time pass and Kroos, at full stretch, fails to keep his shot under control. The midfielder is sliding and sends the ball flying wide of the target from 12 yards. Madrid looking dangerous whenever they get forward.
Barca are playing pretty poorly. It goes to show just how important Messi is to this side - will Valverde bring on the Argentinian forward at half time? If Messi is even half-fit, he has to come on - it is that simple.
Navas is quickly off his line to gather the ball after Suarez slid the ball through for Malcom. Barca's three most advanced players are not on the same wavelength, strengthening the calls for Messi to come on. Llorente obstructs Malcom's run but avoids a yellow card.
CLOSE! Malcom swings in the free kick that he won and Pique get his head to it, but it deflects off a Madrid player and ends inches over the crossbar. The corner kick is disappointing as the visitors, a Vazquez goal to the good, clear their lines.
Rakitic tries to pick out the run of Suarez but there is too much on his pass. It is not quite happening for the home side in the final third so far, with Semedo linking up with Malcom but seeing his cut-back blocked behind by Ramos.
OFF THE BAR! Malcom and Semedo are Barca's best players today, causing real panic down Madrid's left. Malcom is showing some good footwork and wins a free kick from opposite number Vinicius. The set-piece delivery is perfect and Rakitic flicks the ball onto the crossbar. So unlucky!
CHANCE! This match is starting to live up to the hype! Seconds after Rakitic hit the crossbar Madrid could have been two goals ahead, as a quick counter ended with Vinicius nearly sliding in Benzema, getting a little too much on what should have been a simple pass.
SAVE! Barca's only chances have come from set-pieces, whereas Madrid are playing some nice football and creating opportunities fairly regularly. In the blink of an eye, though, Malcom battles through a couple of players, tees up Suarez on the edge of the box and the striker has a shot saved by Navas.
Malcom, arguably the surprise inclusion in Barca's starting lineup, is having a very good first half down the right. Barca have showed some promising signs but Madrid will argue that they are still good value for their one-goal lead.
Busquets sprays a couple of delightful balls out to Malcom on the left - why isn't Marcelo tighter? - but the winger cannot pick out a teammate with his second cross. Navas collects and takes the sting out of the match in the process.
YELLOW CARD! Vinicius tries to get between two Barcelona players and is shoved by Semedo, leading to the second caution of the match. Madrid are looking good value for a second now as the ball is pulled back towards Vinicius, whose powerful shot strikes Pique in front of goal.
There's been plenty of niggling fouls towards the end of the first half. Arthur should have been cautioned for his challenge on Carvajal but the referee keeps it at the one booking apiece. There will be no added on time here.
HALF TIME: BARCELONA 0-1 REAL MADRID
Real Madrid take a 1-0 lead into half time thanks to a well-taken goal from Vazquez six minutes in, assisted by in-form striker Benzema. Barca have created a couple of openings and struck the bar through Rakitic, but Los Blancos have been the more dangerous side overall and will feel that they are good value for their advantage.
A little over three months on from their humiliating 5-1 loss here that cost Julen Lopetegui his job, Madrid took all of seven minutes to show that they are a far more settled side now under Santiago Solari. Marc-Andre ter Stegen had already parried a long-ranger from Toni Kroos when Lucas Vazquez opened the scoring from a few yards out, profiting from some good play from Karim Benzema to play the ball into his path from the byline.
Madrid had chances to double their tally against a Barca side that took time to get going, but Benzema and Vinicius Junior got in each other's way when three-against-two, before the latter dragged an effort wide from a good position five minutes later. Barcelona's first signs of revival came shortly before the half-hour mark as Malcom was played onside by Marcelo and had just Keylor Navas to beat, but he could not get the better of Madrid's deputy keeper.
Kroos and Gerard Pique both came close in an end-to-end half in Catalonia, while Luis Suarez had a shot pushed to safety by Navas after being teed up by the lively Malcom, who has been asked to fill in for the half-fit Lionel Messi. Despite the visitors looking the more dangerous in the final third, it was the holders who came closest to a second goal in the first half as Ivan Rakitic glanced a free kick against the crossbar.
BENCH WATCH!
BARCELONA SUBS: Alena, Messi, Roberto, Boateng, Pena, Vidal, Murillo
REAL MADRID SUBS: Courtois, Nacho, Bale, Casemiro, Asensio, Isco, Ceballos
KICKOFF: Barcelona, trailing by a goal with 45 minutes of the first leg to play, get us back underway at Camp Nou. The hosts edged the possession in the first half but they need to enjoy some sustained pressure if they are to score a goal or two.
Alba carries the ball forward out wide but his cross is blocked. The hosts have started the second half with a good tempo, forcing their opponents back a little. Bale has been sent to warm-up right from the start of the second period.
Madrid are getting plenty of bodies back behind the ball to frustrate their opponents. It looks as though Solari was not happy with the frantic nature of the first half and would instead prefer his side to focus on protecting their lead.
The second half has been a lot quieter than the first. Seven minutes played and neither side has been able to create much of anything. It has turned into a scrappy match, which will no doubt suit Madrid as they are sitting on a narrow lead.
The first chants of Messi's name goes around Camp Nou - the supporters have made it clear that they want to see their star man on the field. The hosts have not got going in this second half and it is surely only a matter of time before they get their wish.
SHOT! Coutinho gets a trademark shot away from outside the box, but the ball flies over the crossbar. We are a minute closer to Messi to being introduced.
YELLOW CARD! Suarez is cautioned by the referee for, well, not a great deal. The Uruguayan is not happy that the decision went against him following a coming together with Ramos in the box - can only assume his reaction was what led to the caution.
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-1 REAL MADRID (MALCOM)
Suarez is taken out by Navas but still gets a shot away, which hits the post. The loose ball is pounced on by Malcom and the Barca dangerman picks out the back of the net. There is real confusion as the referee did not appear to award the goal at first, but it is given now - game on!
SAVE! Barcelona are starting to ramp up the pressure now. Coutinho again gets a trademark shot away from outside the box, but it is far too central and Navas makes a simple save. Barca are about to make their first change, but it will not be Messi coming on.
SUBS! Barcelona bring on Vidal for Rakitic and Messi for Coutinho. In response, Madrid introduce Bale and Casemiro for Llorente and Vinicius in like-for-like changes. A huge roar around Camp Nou greets Messi's arrival to this tightly-poised match.
Madrid have barely offered any sort of attacking threat in the second half. Will that change with the introduction of Bale, who has netted against Barca in La Liga and indeed this competition since arriving at Madrid. Twenty-five minutes to go.
Los Blancos are looking incredibly flat, as they have done throughout this second period. Barca are knocking on the door for a second goal, but they could do with testing Navas a little more often. Messi takes the ball off Casemiro, bursts towards the box and is brought down 22 yards from goal.
Having won the free kick, Messi is allowed to take it. Camp Nou breathes in as one but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner fires the ball right into the wall. Madrid are starting to hold on now, with 20 minutes still to play.
Solari's side are knocking the ball around now in an attempt to eat up some more seconds. Modric sprays it long to Marcelo, who drives the ball in low. A few players in white are waiting but Busquets is the first player to get to it.
The second half has not been as gripping as the first, but this is still a great game for the neutral. Barcelona are the side on top but they need to start asking more questions of Navas if they are to snatch a winner in the remaining minutes.
Bale does well to control the ball but the offside flag goes up. Malcom appears to have picked up a knock and Valverde is readying Alena to come on. Both teams still have another change available to make...
BARCELONA SUB! Barcelona's goalscorer is replaced, with Alena coming on for Malcom. The incoming youngster has 15 minutes to showcase his talents in the biggest fixture of them all.
Alena works the ball onto his left boot but he delays the shot by a fraction of a second and Carvajal makes a sliding block. Barcelona have two up top now in Messi and Suarez after losing Malcom to a thigh injury.
Barcelona are the side looking to inject some intensity into the match. The tempo has inevitably dropped as we enter the final 10 minutes and that will suit Solari's side just fine - they will happily take a 1-1 draw back to the Bernabeu.
Carvajal touches Suarez on the shoulder and the striker chucks himself to the floor. Silly from the Madrid full-back, but the referee made the right call by waving away the weak appeals.
CHANCE! Ter Stegen races out of his box and only half-clears the ball to Benzema, who does well to feed it to Bale almost instantly. The Welshman wanted a touch to set himself and that proved costly as he lost his balance and could not direct a shot on the unguarded goal.
REAL MADRID SUB! Asensio is on for Vazquez in the final change of the match. Casemiro gets a touch to Kroos's free kick and the ball ends narrowly wide of the far post. Madrid have been the better side over the last five minutes.
Pique blocks Bale's cross, which Benzema would have tapped in towards the back post, and the centre-back then blocked a shot in front of goal. All of a sudden it is the home side who will be the happier to hear the full-time whistle!
Messi goes down in the box under a challenge from Ramos and there are shouts for a penalty. Messi is not among those to appeal, though, which says a lot - the correct call from the referee to wave play on. Three minutes added on here.
The loose ball falls for Messi but before he can get going Carvajal trips him. Ramos also dragged an opponent to the ground but both men avoid a booking. Barca are finally enjoying some sustained pressure on the edge of the opposition box but time is not on their side.
FULL TIME: BARCELONA 1-1 REAL MADRID
It is still all to play for in this Copa del Rey semi-final showdown between the world's two biggest clubs as the first leg has finished 1-1. The home side, winners of this competition four seasons running, trailed inside the opening six minutes after Vazquez converted from close range, but Malcom equalised shortly before the hour mark to keep the tie alive ahead of the return fixture in three weeks' time.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Catalonia. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again at the weekend as we bring you updates from the La Liga fixtures involving both of these sides. See you then!
