• BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 8 - Good hands at the near post to stop a Vinicius effort and alert to stop several dangerous Madrid crosses, yet Madrid didn’t have a single effort on target. Faultless performance and a clean sheet at the Bernabéu. AP Photo
    BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 8 - Good hands at the near post to stop a Vinicius effort and alert to stop several dangerous Madrid crosses, yet Madrid didn’t have a single effort on target. Faultless performance and a clean sheet at the Bernabéu. AP Photo
  • Ronald Araujo 8 - Again moved to right-back because of his pace. Blocked Vinicius early on as the Brazilian was a threat down the left. The duels between the two continued throughout, but one was a winner – both in that battle and for his team.
    Ronald Araujo 8 - Again moved to right-back because of his pace. Blocked Vinicius early on as the Brazilian was a threat down the left. The duels between the two continued throughout, but one was a winner – both in that battle and for his team.
  • Jules Kounde 7 - Did well to come across and stop Modric shooting on target after just 25 seconds. Found it difficult against Camavinga too. EPA
    Jules Kounde 7 - Did well to come across and stop Modric shooting on target after just 25 seconds. Found it difficult against Camavinga too. EPA
  • Marcos Alonso 7 - Challenged by Vinicius but held up well in the face of waves of Madrid attacks as Barça won the first of three derbies in a month. EPA
    Marcos Alonso 7 - Challenged by Vinicius but held up well in the face of waves of Madrid attacks as Barça won the first of three derbies in a month. EPA
  • Alejandro Balde 8 - The Catalans’ defence was very well organised. Balde’s performance was a mature one with no mistakes as the team with a record 31 cup wins and eight final appearances in the last decade head into the second leg with a 1-0 advantage. AP Photo
    Alejandro Balde 8 - The Catalans’ defence was very well organised. Balde’s performance was a mature one with no mistakes as the team with a record 31 cup wins and eight final appearances in the last decade head into the second leg with a 1-0 advantage. AP Photo
  • Sergio Busquets 7 - His 46th clasico game, surpassing Lionel Messi record and Sergio Ramos’ record. Saw little of the ball as Madrid dominated early exchanges and had 64 per cent of possession overall without much genuine end product. His concentration was partly responsible. AFP
    Sergio Busquets 7 - His 46th clasico game, surpassing Lionel Messi record and Sergio Ramos’ record. Saw little of the ball as Madrid dominated early exchanges and had 64 per cent of possession overall without much genuine end product. His concentration was partly responsible. AFP
  • Franck Kessie 8 - Improving. Stumbled towards the Madrid goal with after 25 minutes – and it went in off Madrid’s Militao. A 71st minute shot was going in for a second – but Barça substitute Ansu Fati stopped the ball. Kessie couldn’t believe it. Booked. AFP
    Franck Kessie 8 - Improving. Stumbled towards the Madrid goal with after 25 minutes – and it went in off Madrid’s Militao. A 71st minute shot was going in for a second – but Barça substitute Ansu Fati stopped the ball. Kessie couldn’t believe it. Booked. AFP
  • Gavi 7 - Busy as ever in a game lacking the quality normally associated with el clasico. Crashed into Camavinga on 29 minutes in a tetchy period of play. Booked for another tussle with the same player. AFP
    Gavi 7 - Busy as ever in a game lacking the quality normally associated with el clasico. Crashed into Camavinga on 29 minutes in a tetchy period of play. Booked for another tussle with the same player. AFP
  • Frenkie de Jong 7 - Early tussle with Vinicius saw the Madrid player booked. Valverde was also booked for a foul on the Dutchman, but it was Barça’s fighting display – without key players – which won the game. Always excellent on the ball. AP Photo
    Frenkie de Jong 7 - Early tussle with Vinicius saw the Madrid player booked. Valverde was also booked for a foul on the Dutchman, but it was Barça’s fighting display – without key players – which won the game. Always excellent on the ball. AP Photo
  • Raphinha 5 - Offside, but didn’t interfere with the move for Barcelona’s opening goal. Too easy to dispossess. Booked on 44 minutes but difficult for him with little service and without Lewandowski to link with. AFP
    Raphinha 5 - Offside, but didn’t interfere with the move for Barcelona’s opening goal. Too easy to dispossess. Booked on 44 minutes but difficult for him with little service and without Lewandowski to link with. AFP
  • Ferran Torres 5 - Tough task as Madrid had so much possession, the striker had to work hard to be an outlet for his side when they got the ball. AP Photo
    Ferran Torres 5 - Tough task as Madrid had so much possession, the striker had to work hard to be an outlet for his side when they got the ball. AP Photo
  • Ansu Fati 5 - Managed to turn a shot – and almost certainly a goal - from Kessie away from goal on 71 minutes. EPA
    Ansu Fati 5 - Managed to turn a shot – and almost certainly a goal - from Kessie away from goal on 71 minutes. EPA
  • Sergi Roberto N/A - On for Kessie late on as Barça sort to hold onto their lead. They did. Getty Images
    Sergi Roberto N/A - On for Kessie late on as Barça sort to hold onto their lead. They did. Getty Images

Barcelona Copa del Rey ratings v Real Madrid: Kessie 8, Gavi 7, Raphinha 5


Andy Mitten
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Eder Militao's own goal handed a depleted Barcelona a surprise 1-0 away victory over Real Madrid in a stormy Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday.

The Catalans arrived on the back of two consecutive defeats and without an injured trio of key players – top scorer Robert Lewandowski, key midfielder Pedri and explosive winger Ousmane Dembele.

After their Europa League elimination by Manchester United last week and a first ever loss against La Liga minnows Almeria, Madrid fans smelled blood, but left bitterly frustrated.

Militao deflected a rebound into his own goal after 26 minutes to split the teams and hand Barcelona the edge ahead of the second leg on April 5 at Camp Nou.

Updated: March 03, 2023, 4:40 AM