On April 16, 2014, Barcelona faced Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia. In a closely contested match, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory, claiming the Copa del Rey title.
Key Statistics and Analysis
- Scoreline and Goal Timings:
- Barcelona: 1 (Marc Bartra 68′)
- Real Madrid: 2 (Ángel Di María 11′, Gareth Bale 85′)
- Possession:
- Barcelona dominated possession with 69%, while Real Madrid had 31%. Despite Barcelona’s control of the ball, Real Madrid’s counter-attacking approach proved to be more effective.
- Shots:
- Barcelona registered 16 shots, with 5 on target, reflecting their attempts to break down Real Madrid’s defense. Real Madrid had 14 shots, with 6 on target, making the most of their opportunities, particularly on the counter-attack.
- Passing Accuracy:
- Barcelona had a passing accuracy of 89%, completing 644 passes out of 723 attempts. Real Madrid’s passing accuracy was 76%, completing 267 passes out of 351 attempts. Barcelona’s passing was precise and methodical, but Real Madrid’s direct approach caused more problems for the opposition.
- Defensive Statistics:
- Barcelona made 15 tackles compared to Real Madrid’s 22, reflecting Madrid’s efforts to disrupt Barcelona’s play and regain possession quickly. Real Madrid’s defense, led by Sergio Ramos and Pepe, was solid and well-organized, particularly in dealing with Barcelona’s intricate passing around the box.
- Set Pieces:
- The first goal came from a quick counter-attack. In the 11th minute, Ángel Di María finished off a swift break with a low shot that beat goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto. Barcelona equalized in the 68th minute when Marc Bartra headed home from a corner, beating Iker Casillas at the near post. The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Gareth Bale produced a stunning solo effort, sprinting from inside his own half, outpacing Bartra, and finishing coolly past Pinto to secure the win for Real Madrid.
- Individual Performances:
- Gareth Bale was the standout performer for Real Madrid, scoring the winning goal in spectacular fashion and causing problems for Barcelona’s defense throughout the match. Ángel Di María was also crucial, scoring the opening goal and contributing defensively. For Barcelona, Marc Bartra was impressive, scoring the equalizer and defending valiantly, while Lionel Messi had a quieter game by his standards, struggling to break through Madrid’s defense.
- Tactical Overview:
- Barcelona, managed by Gerardo Martino, employed a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on controlling possession and pressing high. Real Madrid, under Carlo Ancelotti, used a 4-3-3 formation as well, but with a clear emphasis on counter-attacking football, using the pace of Bale and Di María to exploit the spaces left by Barcelona’s high line. Madrid’s tactics were highly effective, allowing them to absorb pressure and strike decisively on the break.
- Disciplinary:
- The match saw four yellow cards, two for each team. Barcelona’s Neymar and Dani Alves, along with Real Madrid’s Isco and Sergio Ramos, were booked for tactical fouls aimed at breaking up play and preventing dangerous attacks.
- Corners and Offsides:
- Barcelona won 10 corners compared to Real Madrid’s 5, reflecting their territorial advantage. However, Real Madrid’s defense dealt well with these set-pieces. Barcelona were caught offside twice, while Real Madrid had 3 offside calls, indicating both teams’ attempts to play on the shoulder of the last defender.
Summary
Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final was a memorable and hard-fought win that showcased the effectiveness of their counter-attacking strategy. Despite Barcelona dominating possession, Real Madrid’s clinical finishing and defensive organization were the deciding factors.
Ángel Di María’s early goal gave Madrid the lead, and although Barcelona equalized through Marc Bartra in the second half, Gareth Bale’s stunning solo goal in the 85th minute sealed the win for Madrid. Bale’s goal, where he sprinted from inside his own half and outpaced Marc Bartra before calmly finishing, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic moments in Copa del Rey history.
Barcelona, while controlling the game for long periods, struggled to penetrate Real Madrid’s defense and were vulnerable to Madrid’s rapid transitions. Lionel Messi was largely kept in check, and despite their best efforts, Barcelona could not find a second goal to take the match to extra time.
The victory secured Real Madrid their 19th Copa del Rey title and provided Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a significant boost in confidence as they continued their pursuit of other major trophies that season. For Barcelona, the defeat was a bitter disappointment, as they missed out on the chance to add to their domestic silverware.
