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:
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Gareth Bale was dangerous early, nearly opening the scoring.
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Di María’s goal was the result of swift transition play, exploiting Barca’s high line.
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Barcelona’s struggles are clear, with Neymar isolated and Lionel Messi quiet, continuing his recent dip in form.
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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?
