Despite being one of the oldest football competitions in Spain, Copa del Rey is usually treated by the biggest Spanish clubs as a secondary objective in their seasonal campaigns, as they focus primarily on the league and Champions League games.
However, Copa del Rey has gained special attraction for both the clubs and fans themselves in its later stages. The last knockout round involved plenty of entertainment, as Barcelona was able to edge out a difficult Real Sociedad team to reach to Semi-Finals.
Similarly, other big teams were also involved, with Real Madrid, Athletic Club, and Osasuna all advancing to the Semi Final stage. The match between Real and Atletico Madrid teams was exceptionally noteworthy, as the game went to extra time, and Real Madrid had to come from behind to book their berth for the next round.
The Copa del Rey Semi-Final stage now promises even more entertainment, as a draw held today has set out some exciting fixtures. An El Classico is on the cards, as Real Madrid and Barcelona face each other in the Semi Final stage, while the other Semi Final will see Atheltic Club face off Osasuna. The dates of the matches are provided below:
- Semi-Final 1st Leg: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona
The 1st Leg of the Copa del Rey Semi-Final will be played at Santiago Bernabéu on 28th February 2023.
- Semi-Final 2nd Leg: FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid
The 2nd Leg of the Copa del Rey Semi-Final will be played at Camp Nou on 4th April 2023.
It is difficult to predict the outcome of either of the matches at this point in time, as they are almost equally matched. Still, Barcelona will be more confident going into the tie as they recently got the better of Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Still, the Catalans will have to be wary of the winning mentality and experience present in the Real Madrid squad, who still have some veterans from their three-peat winning side playing on a high level.
In addition to these Copa Classicos, a La Liga El Classico is also scheduled to take place on the 19th of March. Barcelona and Xavi will have to play their cards extremely well to beat their traditional rivals and go on to the Final of the tournament.
