Real Madrid gives Barcelona thrashing at Camp Nou and reaches cup final

Real Madrid reached the Spanish Cup final by kicking FC Barcelona’s ass at Camp Nou. Thanks in part to a hat trick by Karim Benzema, it was 4-0 for Real.

The opponent in the final of the Copa del Rey on May 6 will be Osasuna, which was too strong for Athletic from Bilbao in a Basque friendly over two games.

Barcelona were still missing Frenkie de Jong because of a hamstring injury, and coach Xavi Hérnandez also could not have Pedri, Ousmane Dembélé and Andreas Christensen.

The Catalans were the better side in the first half, but still went into the locker room trailing 0-1. In injury time, first Robert Lewandowski had a great chance on behalf of the home side, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved. In the sharp counter that immediately followed, Real scored.

A shot by Vinícius Júnior went over the goal line via defender Jules Koundé. It was the Brazilian’s first goal in an El Clásico.

Barça and Real were equal again with that, but soon after halftime the Madrilenians distanced themselves. In the 50th minute, Luka Modric found striker Benzema, who fired in the 2-0 unerringly.

And nine minutes later, Vinícius was tapped in the penalty area by Franck Kessié and the ball went on the dot. Benzema shot the penalty impeccably for the 3-0. Barcelona was then lucky that a minute later Rodrygo wasted a great opportunity to make it 4-0.

The sloppy Catalans then got no further than two shots from distance and in the 81st minute Benzema provided the final blow by completing his hat-trick on hostile soil.