Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona: Luis Suarez scores cheeky Panenka to seal clasico Copa del Rey win
Barca, competition winners for the past four seasons, were held 1-1 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and were second best for large periods in the return before running out convincing 4-1 aggregate winners
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Your support makes all the difference.Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona maintained their stranglehold on the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win at Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final.
Barca, competition winners for the past four seasons, were held 1-1 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and were second best for large periods in the return before running out convincing 4-1 aggregate winners.
Suarez struck against the run of play early in the second half and after Raphael Varane’s own goal left Real a mountain to climb, the Uruguay striker converted a penalty, Panenka-style, to silence the Bernabeu.
Real banished memories of their 5-1 La Liga defeat to Barca in September by shading the first leg earlier this month, but the visitors were clinical in the Spanish capital to seal a sixth successive final appearance.
The home side were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty by the video assistant referee in the 14th minute.
Vinicius Junior’s tumble in the penalty area after Nelson Semedo’s challenge was referred back to VAR by match official Sanchez Martinez, who had initially appeared unmoved, but play continued.
Real’s best early efforts in a frenetic opening came through Vinicius Junior, who fired over the crossbar and had another shot saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Vinicius’ pace was causing the visitors problems. The Brazilian set up Karim Benzema, whose shot was comfortably saved by Ter Stegen, and then fired just over after another swift Real counter.
Barca had their moments in a goalless first half without creating a clear-cut chance, but Real, clearly intent on not relying on their away goal advantage, shaded it as the pace of an end-to-end encounter was unrelenting.
Benzema headed Toni Kroos’s free-kick narrowly over soon after the restart and at the other end Gerard Pique was off target with a similar effort from Lionel Messi’s set piece.
Barca then stunned the Bernabeu by snatching the lead in the 50th minute.
Suarez appeared well covered by Sergio Ramos when Ousmane Dembele’s cut back from the left reached him inside the area, but he shimmied to create space and side-footed home an emphatic finish.
The Uruguay striker maintained his impressive record at the Bernabeu by scoring his 17th goal in 18 visits.
There was no let-up. Barca were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Ivan Rakitic appeared to be fouled by Ramos, while Real were denied an equaliser by Ter Stegen’s brilliance as he kept out Sergio Reguilon’s header.
Vinicius went close again for the home side when his run carried him into the area, but his deflected shot curled agonisingly wide.
Barca, outplayed for long periods, then dealt Real a hammer blow with their second goal on the night.
Dembele again was the provider as his precision pass into the area from the right was turned into his own net by the sliding Varane, who was under pressure from Suarez.
Barca sealed their place in the final when Suarez was fouled by Casemiro on the left edge of the box and then dinked home his spot-kick straight down the middle.
PA
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62 minutes: Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
What a save by ter Stegen!
It's sumptuous link-up play again down the left by Vinicius and Reguilon, but this time the Brazilian sets up the Spaniard in the box, whose header looks destined for the far corner, but ter Stegen somehow manages to claw it out, diving to his left!
Deary me, surely it's only a matter of time, no?
65 minutes: Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
Sergio Busquets in the book now, as he hacks down Luka Modric from behind.
No complaints from Busquets, which is rare...
66 minutes: Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
Dani Carvajal's driven shot is comfortably saved by ter Stegen, before a sensational solo run by Vinicius...
He beats three players, leaving two on the ground, but his shot is deflected inches wide.
The only thing missing from Vinicius' performance is a goal - he's some talent.
67 minutes: Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
Gareth Bale is on for Lucas Vazquez.
23 minutes for the Welshman to make the difference.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona (Varane OG' 69)
Can you believe it?!
Dembele's cross from the right is begging for a touch, and with Luis Suarez lurking, Raphael Varane turns the ball into his own net from close range.
They don't deserve it, but Barca are two up... Real now need three, and have a mountain to climb.
PENALTY TO BARCELONA! 72 minutes: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona (1-3 agg.)
Luis Suarez wins a penalty, as Casemiro clearly trips the Uruguayan who does him with a drop of the shoulder.
Chance for Barca to put this to bed.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona (Suarez 73')
That's unbelievably cheeky by Luis Suarez!
Messi leaves the penalty to Suarez, and the striker chips the ball, 'Panenka-style', down the middle as Navas dives early.
Barca on their way to the final.
75 minutes: Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona (1-4 agg.)
Changes on both sides. Coutinho on for Dembele, while Casemiro departs for Valverde.
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