Real Madrid gave a good shake the current Liga leaders Atletico de Madrid winning tonights 1º st leg Copa del Rey semi-final match 3 - 0. Very intense, very physical, full of controversy & great Football. It was a typical city rival game with "the body" serving just as well as the ball in order to gain the advantage for the return leg.
Overall Real Madrid deserved the win & could have scored more goals, especially in the first half, & basically out played Atletico de Madrid tonight. The first goal came in the 17th min when Pepe scored a gem. This lifted Real Madrid spirits further with young Jese along with Di Maria starring & giving the Atletico defenders plenty of work. The half ended after falls, fouls, yellow cards & controversy that will be analysed in tonight's media & tomorrows Sporting papers.
No excuse however for Atletico as Real Madrid continued were they left off, & in the second half Di Maria gave a fabulous pass to Jese who scored in the 58th min. Then in the 73rd min it was Di Maria himself made a power shot that took the deflection of Atletico defender Miranda for a third ( an own goal ).
Things are not a total disaster for Atletico as they have a slim chance of turning around the tie at their home ground next week. But it is a long shot as Real Madrid are currently very comfortable in the Spanish Cup semi-final "drivers seat".
FC Barcelona won Real Sociedad in the 1º st leg semi-final of the Spanish Cup with a final 2 - 0 result. Surprisingly the scoreline stayed relatively low as Real Sociedad lost stupidly defender Iñigo Martinez for protesting in the 45th min. This left Real Sociedad down to 10 men & it was amazing that Barça did not completely run them over Real Sociedad to shut the tie.
Habitual Barça game tonight of ball domination & attacking Football while Real Sociedad defended & looked for counter-attacks. Their most dangerous moment was a Carlos Vela escape-counter that saw Mascherano solve in the last moment, but it was a penalty that was not called. This is the principal reason why Martinez later received a red card for complaining. Barça attacked until the inevitable when Sergi Busquets scored in the 43rd min after Messi hit the bar from a free-kick earlier.
The second half was all Barça & the second goal came from an own goal from goalie Zubikarai in the 60th min from an Alexis play & shot. From here & till the end Real Sociedad did an incredible job of not allowing more Barça goals.
The tie is still open with Barça having a healthy advantage heading into next weeks semi-final 2º leg match at San Sebastian.
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