Barcelona have turn into the fourth and closing workforce to achieve the Copa del Rey semi-finals, and so they obtained there in positive model with a crushing victory over Valencia of their quarter-final tie.
Hansi Flick opted to herald Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres to the aspect that defeated Alaves final weekend, and it was the latter that broke the impasse in opposition to his former membership contained in the opening three minutes. Alejandro Balde’s wonderfully-weighted via ball made its strategy to Ferran, who made no mistake from shut vary.
14 minutes later, Ferran obtained his and Barcelona’s second, because the Catalans seemed to flex their muscle mass early on on the Mestalla. Raphinha was slipped in by Pedri earlier than shedding to Lamine Yamal, whose shot was saved by Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. The rebound fell to Ferran, who made no mistake – the ball was initially dominated out for offside, however after a VAR test, it was given.
Fermin Lopez would get in on the act quickly after to make it 3-0. Pedri performed a splendidly via ball to his fellow midfielder, and he discovered an empty web after taking the ball across the onrushing Dimitrievski. And shortly after that strike, Ferran fired residence his third of the night on the half hour to finish a sensational hat-trick.
On the hour mark, it went 5-0 as Lamine Yamal obtained himself in on the act. Raphinha laid the ball off to the 17-year-old on the precise aspect of the field, and his tame shot someway trickled previous Dimitrievski, whose depressing night was compound at that second.
Valencia managed to outlive the remaining half-hour with conceding, however that’s nonetheless 12-1 to Barcelona in an combination scoreline within the two groups’ conferences during the last 11 days. Barcelona can now look ahead to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, the place they are going to be matched in opposition to one among Atletico Madrid, Actual Madrid or Actual Sociedad.