Real Madrid chief Butragueno welcomes Barcelona for Copa semi: We can give joy to our fans

Real Madrid chief Emilio Butragueno says they're happy with their Copa del Rey semifinal draw with Barcelona.

Many are lamenting that it won't be an El Clasico final, but Butragueno insists facing Barca in the semi can still be special.

He explained: "We compete to win and in this case Barcelona has touched us, whom we will try to overcome. The approach is to give joy to the fans and reach the final. There is little left and we will do everything possible to achieve that goal.

"Each game is different and the circumstances change. Until we face each other there will be many games on the road and we will see how the two teams get to that first meeting. They will be disputed and we are convinced that the team will respond to the confidence to reach the final.

"We know that the calendar is tremendous and we have to adapt. We need all the players. We play every three days, the demand is very high but the team responds very well. The calendar is very difficult because all the rivals demand a lot but we have to prepare to overcome difficulties."

Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna will meet in the other Copa semifinal.