How Did FC Barcelona and Valencia Secure Their Copa del Rey Quarterfinal Spots?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- FC Barcelona won 2-0 against Racing Santander.
- Valencia triumphed 2-0 over Burgos.
- Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal were key players for Barcelona.
- Ruben Iranzo and Umar Sadiq scored for Valencia, aiding their relegation fight.
- Both teams now advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
Madrid, Jan 16 (NationPress) FC Barcelona secured their place in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 victory against the second division frontrunners Racing Santander on Thursday evening.
In the first half, Racing employed a solid defensive strategy, and a Barcelona lineup missing Pedri, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski found it challenging to test the home goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta, as reported by Xinhua.
Ferran Torres netted the first goal in the 65th minute following a brilliant assist from Fermin Lopez. Ezkieta then made two crucial saves to keep the scoreline manageable as the match drew to a close.
Racing nearly equalized when young loanee Manex Lozano had two attempts disallowed for offside and another shot was saved by Joan Garcia in the dying moments.
In a swift counter-attack, Lamine Yamal added Barcelona's second goal in injury time, capitalizing on Racing’s offensive players being caught upfield.
In another match, Valencia gained some respite in their La Liga relegation struggle with a 2-0 triumph over second-tier Burgos amidst cold and rainy conditions at El Plantio Stadium.
Ruben Iranzo scored with a header from a corner to give Valencia an early advantage, followed by new signing Umar Sadiq sealing the victory just three minutes into the second half.
With this win, Barcelona and Valencia join Athletic Club, Atletico Madrid, Deportivo Alaves, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, and Albacete in the quarterfinal draw scheduled for Monday. Notably, Albacete achieved a stunning upset, defeating Real Madrid 3-2 at home on Wednesday.