UD Barbastro 2-3 FC Barcelona: Catalan giants narrowly edge past fourth-tier club, survives scare in Copa Del Rey
Defending Spanish champions FC Barcelona nudges past fourth-tier club UD Barbastro by fine margins as they earn a hard-fought victory on the road, advancing to the next stages of Copa Del Rey. Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Robert Lewandowski were on target, as Xavi’s brigade made some changes to the squad which defeated Las Palmas at the midweek fixture.
Barcelona edges past Barbastro
FC Barcelona and UD Barbastro had set for a new rivalry at Estadio Municipal, as the Spanish giants were eager to stamp their authority on their lowly opponents. Little did they knew what bigger challenges were on the road for them. Xavi’s brigade has been a bit erroneous in this season, producing several cynical results on the trot, as their latest victory coming against Las Palmas, which included a 92nd minute successful penalty conversion from Ilkay Gundogan to gain all three points. With a win to start off the year, Barca visited fourth-tier club UD Barbastro, hoping for an easy game on the road, which will help them qualify into the next round. Xavi made some changes to his squad, particularly focusing on La Masia youngsters Fermin Lopez and Hector Fort. On the attacking front, Ferran, Felix and Raphinha formed the seasoned troika, resting mainstay Lewandowski. In the midfield, it was Fermin, De Jong and Romeu, with defensive duties vested upon the enterprising mixture of youth and experience, having Kounde, Araujo, Christensen and Fort on the throng. For Barbastro, it was the two-fold attack of De Mesa and Rausell, which presented a swift attacking mentality, banking on the rousing home support.
Fermin draws first blood
With an enterprising combination from both sides, the visitors, who definitely had the upper hand in this game, started off in a subtle manner, with Raphinha and Felix building on attacks along the wings. After few missed and saved opportunities, Barcelona managed to open the scoring through youngster Fermin Lopez.
It was Frenkie De Jong who was the driving force behind the opener, as his perfectly placed ball touched the feet of Brazilian Raphinha whose sliding cross met the feet of Fermin, who slotted home past Girona-born custodian Fabrega, thus etching his name on the history books by scoring his first Copa Del Rey goal. The Blaugranas created more pressure and chances, but the score went to 0-1 in favor of the visitors after a Felix goal was ruled out just before the break.
Raphinha doubles the lead
Barbastro came to the field with more attacking intent, hoping to score a leveler, but it was with the Catalans once again as Brazilian Raphinha slotted home the second goal of the night, thus doubling their advantage.
It was another youngster who was at fray for the second goal, as young full-back Hector Fort swerved in a gorgeous cross into the wings with Raphinha riding along. The La Masia star’s perfect cross met Raphinha’s jumping leg, who hit the back of the net after vague cries of offside from the home side, thus doubling the lead for the visitors.
Lewandowski hits the final punch
After going up 2-0 with half-an-hour left to play, Xavi introduced new recruit Vitor Roque and Robert Lewandowski, who were tasked with the opportunity to kill the game. But, Barbastro reduced the deficit to one goal, when a corner became instrumental in that, as a rebound shot from Adria de Mesa found the back of the goal, leaving Inaki Pena hapless.
Although the hosts tried to restore the parity with plenty of re-exuberant gameplay, it was Barca’s seasoned striker Lewandowski who delivered the final nail in the coffin for a spirited Barbastro side. The Polish striker’s header touched twice in the hand of Javito Lopez, thus leading to the referee awarding a penalty to the visitors. He scored from the spot to lead the side, thus winning the game.
Barca suffered a bit more as Fermin fouled Crespo inside the box, thus Prat reducing the deficit once again, but the visitors had killed the game, thus proceeding to the next stages.
