1st leg: Real Madrid all set to host arch-rivals Barcelona

One of the most awaited rivalries in football history is back as Real Madrid is set to host FC Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu in the Copa Del Rey semi-final on 3rd March. After their miserable performance in European competitions, FC Barcelona has enjoyed a successful season up to this point, but even if they go on to claim their 27th League title, their overall season’s success will depend on if they win Copa Del Rey or not.
Barcelona’s star defender Ronald Arujo believes that his team has the ability to bounce back, even after losing their last two matches.
While talking to Barca TV, he said, “El Clasico is always special, and it’s a match that everyone wants to play. Madrid is a team with great players. We’re ready.
The team is like a family, we are all close to each other. We’re coming from two consecutive losses, but the team is good and we know our potential. We have to wake up and turn the page. There’s still a lot left for the end of the season, and we’re top of the league.” It will be a tough night for Barcelona as they will appear in front of 80,000 Real Madrid fans without their key players Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and OusmaneDembele. Barcelona enjoyed a 75% win rate when Pedri’s name shinned on the line-up sheet. But in his absence, Barcelona has managed to win only 45% of their games. On the contrary, Los Blancos’ hunt for form ended when they thrashed Liverpool in front of their fans with a score line of 5-2. They are only missing FerlanMendy and David Alaba in their defensive line-up but Nacho, Eder Militao, and Antonio Rudiger are more than enough to cover those gaps.