You are wrong JamDav, sorry.
1/4s of CDR, Levante:Real lineups:
1st match:
Casilla
Hernandez, Vallejo, Varane, Carvajal
Kovacic, Lorente
Asensio, Ceballos, Vasquez
Mayoral
That's what? 2 starters in Varane and Carvajal.
2nd game:
Casilla
Hernandez, Ramos, Nacho, Hakimi
Kovacic, Lorente, Isco
Vasquez, Benzema, Asensio
3 starters in Ramos, Isco and Benzema.
So, out of 22 spots in 2 matches, Real played with 5 starters and 17 subs.
And lost to Leganes... Yeah, they weren't too sad.
On the other hand, Barca vs Espanyol in 1/4s:
Cillessen
Digne, Verm, Pique, Roberto
Denis, Alena, Busi, Paulinho, Vidal
Messi
Starters: Pique, Roberto, Busi, Messi (the dumbest thing)
2nd match:
Cillessen
Alba, Pique, Umtiti, Roberto
Iniesta, Raki, Busi, Vidal
Messi, Suarez
9 starters.
So, Real played with 2+3 starters. And zero minutes for CR7.
We played with 4+9 starters and 180 minutes for Messi.
I mean, even in 1/8 we played against Celta, 2nd leg with:
Semedo, Pique, Alba, Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic, Messi, Suarez
Even in the 1st match against Celta (1:1), we played with Pique, Semedo, Busquets, Paulinho and Rakitic, Dembele and Roberto entered in the 2nd half.
While Rm's lineup in 1/8 against Numancia 1st match was:
Casilla
Hernandez, Nacho, Vallejo, Carvajal
Ceballos, Lorente
Bale, Asensio, Vasquez
Mayoral
Players who entered were: Isco, Kovacic and Hakimi.
So, Barca vs Celta 1st match in 1/8: Paulinho was a starter then, so let's say 3 starters and 2 subs from starting 11.
In the 2nd leg: 7 starters.
Real in 1/8: 1 starter (Carvajal) and 1 starter entering later (Isco).
So, Barca is losing energy even in 1/8 and 1/4 of copa with key players and Messi playing 90 minutes.
While for RM:
Kroos, 0 minutes in CDR this season.
Casemiro: 1 match
Cr7: 0 matches
Last 4 years:
Copa del rey:
CR7: 4 matches in 4 years
Kroos: 7 matches in 4 years
Modric: 7 matches in 4 years
Casemiro: 7 matches in 3 years
Benzema: 11 matches in 4 years
Now, Barca:
Messi: 24 matches in 4 years
Suarez: 22 matches in 4 years
Iniesta: 21 matches in 4 years
Rakitic: 29 matches in 4 years (wtf?)
Busquets: 21 matches in 4 years
So, for example, over the last 4 years, RM's 2 starting CMs Modric and Kroos played 7+7=14 matches in CDR.
While our 2 starting Cms, Iniesta and Rakitic played 21+29=50 (lol) matches in CDR.
Or, their 3 midfielders played 7+7+7 matches in 4 years=21 match in total.
Our 3 midfielders played 29+21+21=71 matches in total.
71 vs 21 matches.
A million dollar question: who had more energy in March, April and May: tired turtles Rakitic, Iniesta and Busquets or rested Kroos, Modric and Casemiro?
Add to this that CR7 played 4 CDR matches in 4 years, while Messi played 24 CDR matches in 4 years.
And here is one explanation why we look like grannies every season in March and April.
While RM's midfield (and CR7) is flying all over a field in CL's quarters and semis.
No wonder that this happens in every May: