FC Barcelona came a step closer to the Copa del Rey semifinals last night after a 4-0 win against Osasuna in the Nou Camp. Trouble Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi scored two goals each, the latter having been anticipated to miss the match due to influenza and sitting almost all of the match out.
Barcelona quickly got into their stride, unlike Ream Madrid the evening before who had gone 2 goals down in the 1st half, prompting coach Jose Mourinho to tell the press that he would have modified all 11 players at half time if he’d been able. While Real Madrid got back into the game to win 3-2 against Malaga, Osasuna never really got into the match at all, with barely 20 percent possession.
The 1st goal came from Cesc, set up by Alves and Xavi and once again new boy Cuenca showed that he's got some real potential for the future. Xavi set up Cesc’s 2nd goal inside 20 minutes after a period of about relentless attack. Osasuna must have felt they had no chance. It looked as they Barcelona should improve their score across the first half, but the break came with a 2-0 scoreline in Barcelona’s favor.
The second half started with Barcelona on the attack and were unfortunate not to have once been awarded a penalty. On three occasions it looked like Bara should be awarded a penalty but the referee thought otherwise. But Lionel Messi, who had asked Pep Guardiola to allow him play after responding well to treatment for his flu, came on and the remainder of the match was his.
His first goal came in the 74th minute when he headed the ball into the net after Osasuna did not clear it from their area; Messi was euphoric, as were his fellow players. And in injury time there was time for a last goal as Xavi found Messi on the side of the box – another goal for the Argentine.
The result of the FC Barcelona v Osasuna match means that Osasuna has basically given up on the Copa del Rey, the coach saying that they will focus on their league matches.
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Tags: Cesc Fabregas, Copa del Rey, Fc Barcelona, Lionel Messi