Barcelona had to fight hard against fourth-tier opponents as they advanced to the Copa del Rey’s final 16 with a 3-2 win at Barbastro on Sunday, while Sevilla, Real Sociedad, and Valencia also won closely.
Fermin Lopez started the score for Barcelona in the 18th minute with a tap-in from Raphinha’s low cross, before making it 2-0 in the 51st minute with a superb long ball from teenage newcomer Hector Fort.
Dramatic twists and turn over
Despite Barcelona’s leadership, Adria de Mesa raised the home crowd’s hopes by scoring on a loose ball in the area to make it 1-1 for Barbastro in the 60th minute.
Barbastro came close to scoring, but substitute Robert Lewandowski made no mistake from the penalty spot to increase Barcelona’s lead with two minutes remaining.
Barbastro’s Marc Prat made it 3-2 in the final minute with a penalty, but the hosts were unable to stop Xavi Hernandez’s team from winning.
Statements:
“It looked like the match was over, (but) these games always get complex.” Barca coach Xavi told Movistar.
“It’s a positive result, our play was positive in many events, and we’re in the last 16.”
“We were allowing in a lot of goals; this is something we need to work on,” Lopez told Movistar.
“I have no idea why there isn’t VAR in this competition, even though these are lower level grounds,” he said.
Barcelona Early Brilliance and Controversial Calls
Barcelona got the lead early on when Frenkie de Jong slipped a ball over the top for Raphinha, and Lopez arrived in the penalty area at the right time to tuck away the Brazilian’s low cut-back.
Joao Felix headed in the second from a Lopez cross but was left raged when it was not allowed for offside.
Replays showed that the forward was not in an against the law position, but video replays are not used in the Copa del Rey until the final 16. Arnau Fabrega, the Barbastro goalkeeper, saved free kicks from Felix and Raphinha as the visitors ruled at the 5,000-seat stadium.
Young Talent Shines
Raphinha extended Barcelona’s benefits from close range early in the second half after young defender Hector Fort sent a deep, moving cross to him at the back post.
Former Barcelona youth player De Mesa brought Barbastro back into the game shortly before the hour mark, pushing home from close range following an exchange of passes in the box from a penalty corner. Xavi responded by bringing on Vitor Roque, an 18-year-old Brazilian attacker newly signed from Athletico Paranaense, and defender Inigo Martinez.
Barcelona’s Tense Battle With Barbastro Unfold
The Basque center defender barely managed a few minutes before going off again, having only recently returned from a hamstring injury.
Ferran Torres was just as responsible on the other end, failing to score when passed through, but Barbastro gave Lewandowski the opportunity to get back his team’s advantage from the spot.
Javi Lopez controlled the Polish forward’s header, sending the defense the wrong way and gently sliding the ball into the other corner.
Barbastro got another goal back in the final minute when Marc Prat scored a penalty after a foul by Lopez, but they couldn’t get another to force extra time.
Barcelona Advances alongside Madrid Club
Barcelona joins Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the next round, following the capital teams’ travel on Saturday.
Villarreal’s match at Unionistas de Salamanca on Sunday had to be called off at the start of extra time due to a light fixture fail to function properly.
Real Sociedad won 1-0 away to Malaga thanks to an own goal by Einar Galilea early in the second half.
Las Palmas lost 2-0 against second-tier Tenerife, with first-half goals from Jose Maria Amo, who afterwards got sent off for a second yellow card, and Luismi Cruz. The visitors were also reduced to ten men as Julian Araujo was sent off in the 76th minute.
Fran Manzara had leveled for Racing, but was sent off in the 75th minute after getting a second yellow card.
Barcelona frustrations and Extra-time Thrillers
Power failures at the Reina Sofia stadium forced Villarreal to call off their match against Unionistas Salamanca. Villarreal gained the lead with a goal from Ilias Akhomach before Alfred Planas’ late penalty pushed the game into overtime.
The Spanish FA later confirmed that the match would continue on Monday.
Last season’s Cup runners-up Osasuna battled to defeat third-tier Castellon, forcing the match to extra time until Jose Arnaiz’s goal sealed a 1-0 win.
Valencia also had to dig deep to win 2-1 in extra time against 10-man Cartagena, with Sergi Canos and Jose Luis Gaya scoring to send the LaLiga side through despite the hosts leading for the most of the match.
Athletic Bilbao headed to a 3-0 victory over Eibar, with Asier Villalibre scoring twice and Iker Muniain adding a third.
Third Tier Team Forces Extra Time Against La Liga
In front of almost 6,000 supporters, the third-tier side fought back their La Liga opponents in the late stages to level the score at 1-1 after 90 minutes in the round of 32 match. Play will continue on Monday.
Las Palmas of La Liga were eliminated 2-0 against second-tier Canary Island rivals Tenerife, in one of the round’s few unexpected results.
Sevilla needed a late Juanlu Sanchez goal to defeat second level Racing Ferrol 2-1 to advance, along with Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna, Mallorca, Real Sociedad, Valencia, and Celta Vigo, all of whom defeated lower league opponents.
