Real Madrid were four matches away from making it to the Copa del Rey final again and the aim in the first of those, as Ancelotti said in the press room prior to the match was "taking an advantage into the second leg because the tie will be decided at the Bernabéu".
Video: Espanyol 0:1 Real Madrid | Highlights | Copa Rey 21-01-2014
The start of the match was quite different to the La Liga match between the teams in the same stadium just over a week ago. In fact, the first half hour was very exciting and there were chances at both ends. The clearest before Benzema opened the scoring came in the 21st minute. Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the box and surprised everyone with his turn and shot, only to see the ball hit the post. The deadlock was broken four minutes later. Arbeloa crossed from the right, Bale flicked on the cross with his head for Benzema to fire the ball into the back of the net, also with a header.
The Whites already had the advantage that their coach had spoken about the day before, and now set about trying to increase their lead. They came close to doing so in the 34th minute. The scorer of the first was at the centre of things once again. The Frenchman’s shot towards the far post, following a nice piece of play between Di María and Marcelo, was just off target. Benzema had another chance to get his second three minutes later, but his shot was saved by Casilla, who was also superb in stopping Bale’s 44th-minute free-kick. The way that the Welshman hit the ball, making it dip and swerve, was close to taking the home team’s goalkeeper by surprise.
The second half started even more open than the first half, perhaps because Espanyol needed to go in search of a goal with the scoreboard already against them, and the chances kept coming. The first of them was in the 47th minute. Bale could not make the most of Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross and put his effort high.
Di María put in a cross from the wing ten minutes later which the Portuguese got a head on, but the effort was wide of the mark. After the first quarter of an hour had gone, Arbeloa stole the show. The Whites’ former academy player had two consecutive one-on-ones with Casilla, who came out on top in both. The home side’s goalkeeper was having a great match, made even better with his save of Benzema’s shot towards the far post in the 67th minute.
There were no more goals, although there were lots of chances for both teams. The sixth win in as many matches in 2014 for the Whites, who kept working hard until the end and who have still not conceded a single goal this year. The tie will be decided next Tuesday at the Bernabéu.
Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid
Referee: Clos Gómez
Espanyol XI: Casilla; R.Rodríguez, Sidnei, H.Moreno, Capdevila; Abraham, Víctor Sánchez; Lanzarote (46′), Torje (75′), Pizzi (90′); Sergio García.
Goals: None
Subs: Álex (46′), Córdoba (75′), Stuani (88′)
Yellow Cards: Víctor Sánchez (82′), Abraham (90′)
Real Madrid XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Illarramendi, Di María (73′); Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema (76′), Bale (90′).
Goals: Benzema (25′)
Subs: Xabi Alonso (73′), Isco (76′), Jesé (90′)
Yellow Cards: Ramos (72′)
Source:Realmadrid.net
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