Keylor Navas hopes Real Madrid can make their away goal count to finish off Barcelona at the Bernabeu and reach the Copa del Rey final.

Los Blancos hold a slender advantage after they secured a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of their semi-final clash at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.

Lucas Vazquez put Real in front after just six minutes before Malcolm rescued the hosts with his second-half equaliser.

Keylor Navas hopes Real Madrid can make their away goal advantage count against Barcelona

Barcelona are bidding to win the competition for a fifth consecutive time, but goalkeeper Navas hopes Real can stop their run of domination when the two sides meet again on February 27.

‘We knew we had to score and hopefully we can make the away goal count because we want to be in that final,’ he told Real Madrid TV.

‘Both sides created chances and we both enjoyed spells on top.’

Ahead of the return match, Navas added: “We expect a tough game. You can’t think it is going to be a walk in the park because both clubs want to be in that final.

‘So, we have to try and do things better than they do to book our place there.’

Real’s Lucas Vasquez scored the opening goal of the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg 

Lionel Messi was introduced to the last-four match only as a second-half substitute after Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde started him on the bench.

The Argentinian was nursing a minor leg injury sustained in the 2-2 La Liga draw against Valencia last weekend.

‘Leo is fine,’ Valverde is quoted as saying by Marca. ‘We prefer not to take risks at this time of the season.

‘He had some discomfort and we decided it was for the best.’

Malcolm, who deputised for Messi, impressed for the home side, netting Barcelona’s equaliser after 57 minutes.

But Valverde’s side must now score at least one goal at the Bernabeu to reach the final.

‘We have to score, so the tie is open,’ he added.

Australia assistant coach David Saker has announced his resignation just six months before this year’s Ashes tour.

Cricket Australia confirmed the former England fast bowling coach had stepped down immediately after agreeing with head coach Justin Langer it was ‘in the best interests of the team’.

Langer said the pair had come to a mutual decision in the build-up to the Cricket World Cup in May and the Ashes which start at Edgbaston in August.

Australia assistant coach David Saker has resigned just six months before the Ashes tour

There was an agreement with Australia head coach Justin Langer it was in team’s best interests

‘David and I have had ongoing discussions over the past nine months about his role with the team, and we agreed it’s the right time to head in a different direction in the best interests of the team,’ Langer said.

‘I’d like to thank David for his significant contribution, in particular in the role he has played in helping develop a core group of Australian pace bowlers.’

Saker worked with England for nearly five years before returning home in 2015 to coach Big Bash League side the Melbourne Renegades.

Australian Saker worked with England for nearly five years before returning home in 2015

He later joined the former Australia head coach Darren Lehmann.

The 52-year-old said: ‘I’ve enjoyed my time with the team, in particular working closely with a great group of fast bowlers and in time will look forward to a new coaching role.’

Bowling coach Troy Cooley, who has previously worked with England, has been appointed assistant coach for Australia’s upcoming ODI series against India and Pakistan.

Gareth Bale missed a golden opportunity to be the Real Madrid hero in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg clash with rivals Barcelona. 

Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was out of his goal after a misjudged attempt to close down a Real attack. 

The ball came free to Bale who had an unguarded net to aim for, however he took too much time, was closed down by defenders and screwed his effort wide.

Gareth Bale missed a golden chance to be the hero in their Copa del Rey semi at Barcelona

Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was out of his goal after misjudging an attack

The ball came free to Bale who had an almost entirely unguarded net to aim for

However he took too much time, was closed down by defenders and screwed his shot wide

Bale is left sprawled on the turf, after missing an enormous opportunity to win the game

Bale’s horror miss drew the ire of Real Madrid supporters on social media after the game

It meant the game ended 1-1 at the Nou Camp, with Real missing a massive chance to take an advantage back to the Bernabeu 

Frustrated Real fans turned their ire towards Bale after his miss, with the forward having replaced teenage sensation Vinicius Junior for the final 26 minutes of the game.

Supporters on Twitter suggested Vinicius would have certainly scored that chance, with Bale – who cost Real a then-world record £85million when he signed in 2013 – as yesterday’s man.

Real Madrid fans pointed to Bale’s injury record – the Welshman recently missed three weeks

Supporters on Twitter suggested teen sensation Vinicius Junior would have certainly scored

Some feel Bale – who cost Real a then-world record £85million in 2013 – is yesterday’s man

It meant the game ended 1-1 at the Nou Camp, to the anguish of Madrid supporters on Twitter

Others pointed to Bale’s unfortunate recent injury record – the Welshman recently missed three weeks and six games with a calf injury, and has endured a litany of other knocks and absences in his time in Spain.

In the game itself, it was another young Real forward, Lucas Vazquez, who opened the scoring as Bale watched from the bench. 

However Malcom netted Barca’s equaliser, meaning there is everything to play for in the second leg as the two great Spanish rivals seek domestic silverware.