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The eagerly awaited draw for the Copa del Rey semifinals has been officially revealed, with Real Madrid avoiding a matchup against FC Barcelona at this stage.
The draw took place at the Spanish Football Federation's headquarters on Wednesday.
In a marquee fixture, Barcelona will face off against Atletico Madrid, both of which are among the most prestigious clubs in the country, each striving for a spot in the sought-after final.
The other semifinal match will see Real Madrid go up against Real Sociedad.
The first legs of these thrilling encounters are slated to commence on February 26, with the return legs planned for the first week of the subsequent month.
Barcelona has a remarkable history in this tournament, having lifted the Copa del Rey trophy an impressive 31 times. On the other hand, Real Madrid last celebrated triumph in this esteemed competition in 2021, while Atletico Madrid's last victory dates back to 2013.
Copa del Rey Semifinal Fixtures:
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad
In another note, Real Madrid's star forward Vinicius Junior has surpassed Lionel Messi in the UEFA Champions League for assists in the knockout stage. This extraordinary accomplishment came after Vinicius provided a precise assist to Jude Bellingham during Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over the tough Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
The match had a dramatic turn, with Pep Guardiola’s talented team initially taking the lead through Erling Haaland’s powerful shot in the 19th minute. However, the momentum shifted when Kylian Mbappe equalized for Real Madrid in the 60th minute.
The intensity heightened when Haaland scored again from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, giving Manchester City the lead once more.
Despite this, Real Madrid responded with a stunning goal from Brahim Diaz just six minutes later. Vinicius Junior then demonstrated his remarkable speed, outpacing defenders to delicately lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Ederson, allowing Bellingham an easy finish into an open net.
This assist marked Vinicius’s 13th in the Champions League knockout rounds, putting him ahead of Lionel Messi, who has 12 assists, all accumulated over more matches. Notably, Vinicius achieved this milestone in just 50 games, showcasing his immense potential on the bigger stage.
However, the dynamic Brazilian still has a long way to go to catch up to Messi’s impressive total of 40 assists in the Champions League, placing him third on the all-time assist leaderboard. Angel Di Maria, his fellow countryman, is in second with 41 assists, while the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo holds the top spot with a remarkable 42 assists.
