Madrid: Barcelona eased their crisis ridden
week with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of Elche to all but seal their
place in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup.
week with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of Elche to all but seal their
place in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup.
Despite the speculation
surrounding his future in recent days, Lionel Messi captained the side
on his return to the starting line-up and scored from the penalty spot
after goals from Neymar and Luis Suarez had already put the hosts in
command.
surrounding his future in recent days, Lionel Messi captained the side
on his return to the starting line-up and scored from the penalty spot
after goals from Neymar and Luis Suarez had already put the hosts in
command.
Jordi Alba added a fourth
after the break before Neymar rounded off the scoring in style with a
powerful drive from 20 yards out.
after the break before Neymar rounded off the scoring in style with a
powerful drive from 20 yards out.
Barring a meltdown in the
return leg on January 15, Barca will face the winners of the tie between
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the last eight.
King’s Cup match report: Barcelona 5 Elche 0 | GulfNews.comreturn leg on January 15, Barca will face the winners of the tie between
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the last eight.
“I don’t speak about what happens in the
dressing room,” Neymar said when asked about a reported breakdown in
communication between Messi and Enrique.
dressing room,” Neymar said when asked about a reported breakdown in
communication between Messi and Enrique.
“I am happy with how the game
went for me and the team. We took a big step forward. I am happy for
Messi and Suarez too. Now we need to do the same against Atletico (on
Sunday).”
went for me and the team. We took a big step forward. I am happy for
Messi and Suarez too. Now we need to do the same against Atletico (on
Sunday).”
Messi and
Neymar were among eight changes made by under fire coach Luis Enrique
from the side that lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Neymar were among eight changes made by under fire coach Luis Enrique
from the side that lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
The two South American stars
looked keen to make a point to their boss from the off and Neymar was
unlucky to see a penalty appeal turned away 10 minutes in when he was
bumped to the ground by Damien Suarez.
looked keen to make a point to their boss from the off and Neymar was
unlucky to see a penalty appeal turned away 10 minutes in when he was
bumped to the ground by Damien Suarez.
Dani Alves was then inches
away from a spectacular opener as he returned a punch from Elche ‘keeper
Przemyslaw Tyton back towards goal from 30 yards out, but the ball flew
just wide.
away from a spectacular opener as he returned a punch from Elche ‘keeper
Przemyslaw Tyton back towards goal from 30 yards out, but the ball flew
just wide.
Neymar also came close when
he lifted a wonderful pass by Messi over the onrushing Tyton only to see
the ball fly also just beyond the far post.
he lifted a wonderful pass by Messi over the onrushing Tyton only to see
the ball fly also just beyond the far post.
However, Barca finally made
the breakthrough 11 minutes before half-time when an enticing low cross
by Suarez was smashed home at the far post by Neymar.
the breakthrough 11 minutes before half-time when an enticing low cross
by Suarez was smashed home at the far post by Neymar.
The Uruguayan found the net
himself moments later with a brilliant individual effort as he rolled
his marker before cutting inside and fooling Tyton with a near post
finish.
himself moments later with a brilliant individual effort as he rolled
his marker before cutting inside and fooling Tyton with a near post
finish.
Messi’s name was chanted
regularly by the sparse Camp Nou crowd in a sign of support after a
difficult few days for all those at the club, and he added his name to
the scoresheet from the spot after Neymar had been upended by Enzo Roco.
regularly by the sparse Camp Nou crowd in a sign of support after a
difficult few days for all those at the club, and he added his name to
the scoresheet from the spot after Neymar had been upended by Enzo Roco.
The one way traffic continued
after the break as another sumptuous pass from Messi freed Alba inside
the area to fire low past Tyton to make it 4-0.
after the break as another sumptuous pass from Messi freed Alba inside
the area to fire low past Tyton to make it 4-0.
Yet, the best was still to
come from Enrique’s men when Neymar cut inside onto his favoured right
foot and thumped home his second of the night off the underside of the
bar from 20 yards.
come from Enrique’s men when Neymar cut inside onto his favoured right
foot and thumped home his second of the night off the underside of the
bar from 20 yards.
The Brazilian was denied the
chance to grab his second hat-trick of the season, though, as he was
replaced by Pedro Rodriguez with 23 minutes remaining after suffering
another heavy challenge from Suarez.
chance to grab his second hat-trick of the season, though, as he was
replaced by Pedro Rodriguez with 23 minutes remaining after suffering
another heavy challenge from Suarez.
Earlier, Sevilla took a big step towards securing their place in the last eight with a 2-1 win at Andalusian rivals Granada.
Goals from Barca loanee
Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Gameiro either side of half-time put the
visitors on course to victory, but Lass Bangoura’s injury time strike on
his Granada debut gives Joaquin Caparros’s men a ray of hope heading
into next week’s return leg at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Gameiro either side of half-time put the
visitors on course to victory, but Lass Bangoura’s injury time strike on
his Granada debut gives Joaquin Caparros’s men a ray of hope heading
into next week’s return leg at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
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