Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said they dominated Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg and that they were unlucky to lose the game to the Catalan outfit.
Barcelona and Real Madrid squared off at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, and it was the Catalan outfit who emerged on top. Barcelona inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Real Madrid in the game.
An own goal conceded by Eder Militao in the 26th minute of the match saw Barcelona take the lead, and the Catalan outfit held on to it and saw off the game. The victory means Barcelona will now go into the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final with a one-goal lead.
Speaking after Real Madrid slumped to a defeat to Barcelona, Thibaut Courtois said that they dominated the Catalan outfit and were unlucky to concede the only goal of the game.
Real Madrid were unlucky to concede the goal in a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona: Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois, who started between the sticks for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, also said Barcelona were ‘quite defensive’.
“We dominated the game today,” Thibaut Courtois told TVE [via ESPN] after Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat to Barcelona. “[Barcelona] were quite defensive. We were really unlucky to concede the goal. They won the ball, I saved [the shot] and it rebounded off Militao and went in. They were leading when they didn’t deserve to.
“It was hard for us to create chances. It’s difficult, we played a good game, we were in control, but we didn’t get the chances. They defended well.”
Against Barcelona, Thibaut Courtois and co. had 65% possession while Barcelona had 35% of possession. Real Madrid made 13 shots in that game but failed to register at least one shot on target. Barcelona, on the other hand, registered four shots, two of which were on target.
Despite dominating possession against Barcelona, Real Madrid could not create clear-cut chances against the Catalan outfit. They paid the price for it as Barcelona secured victory in the game courtesy of the own goal – which was also the only goal of the game.
Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Xavi said after the game that Real Madrid are still the favourites to win the Copa del Rey semi-final tie despite suffering defeat in the first leg.
