At halftime of this intense Copa del Rey final at Mestalla, Real Madrid leads 1-0 over FC Barcelona, thanks to Ángel Di María’s goal on a rapid counterattack. Despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid has looked sharper, more direct, and more organized.
Key Takeaways from the First Half:
Gareth Bale was dangerous early, nearly opening the scoring.
Di María’s goal was the result of swift transition play, exploiting Barca’s high line.
Barcelona’s struggles are clear, with Neymar isolated and Lionel Messi quiet, continuing his recent dip in form.
The atmosphere is electric, but Madrid seems to be feeding off it more than their Catalan rivals.
If Barcelona doesn’t find more rhythm and cohesion in attack — or a way to get Messi involved — Real could very well walk away with the trophy.
Do you want a breakdown of tactical setups or second-half expectations?
