Real Madrid v Barcelona: Copa del Rey tips, odds and preview

TV: Eleven Sports 2, 8pm Wednesday

Barcelona's pursuit of a fifth-consecutive Copa del Rey crown faces a stiff test against Real Madrid, and this semi-final tie is finely poised after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Camp Nou.

Neither La Liga giant goes into the second leg in red-hot form and it could be that away goals or extra-time is needed to decide who goes through to the May final.

Barca have drawn four of their last six matches - against Valencia, Real in the reverse fixture, Athletic Bilbao and Lyon - and were unconvincing in the two victories in that run, a 1-0 win against struggling Real Valladolid and 4-2 defeat of Sevilla, where they twice went behind and required two late goals to pinch the points.

Improving Real had been enjoying a welcome renaissance in the early stages of 2019 as they sought to repair the damage of a disappointing start to the campaign. But that recovery came crashing to a halt in their most recent Bernabeu outing, with Real losing 2-1 to struggling Girona.

However, Los Blancos manager Santiago Solari admitted his error in rotating his side so heavily for that clash and his six changes to the starting XI were plausibly to blame for a lack of cohesion and focus.

That defeat and the Barcelona draw aside, Real have won their last eight matches. And while Barca should be stronger than in the first leg - when neither Lionel Messi or Ousmane Dembele were fit enough to start - Real Madrid have the quality and confidence to match the Catalans on home soil.

La Liga standings

Recommendation
Draw
2pts 11-4 BetFred

Key stat
Barcelona have won just two of their last six away games, failing to score in three of those games.

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