Real Madrid couldn't put Barcelona away when it had the chance, and ended up being dealt a hard blow by its biggest rival.
In the first of two consecutive games between the Spanish powerhouses at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Barcelona weathered a dominant first half by Madrid and then scored three times after the break for a 3-0 win Wednesday and a spot in the Copa del Rey final for a sixth straight season.
"I have to admit that we didn't play very well in the first half," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde after his 100th match in charge.
"We scored three goals but didn't have that many chances. It happens sometimes."
"We created many chances but couldn't score. They scored with their first shot on goal, and then with their second shot on goal. They hurt us when they had their chance."
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content