Barcelona took care of business in the 2nd leg of the Copa del Rey Round of 32 after a scoreless first leg against Villanovense. The high scoring affair was started with a screamer from Dani Alves, but the star of the day was Sandro Ramirez who scored a hat-trick. Munir El Haddadi scored a brace for Barcelona while Juanfran scored to solitary goal for the visitors.
| Barcelona | Villanovense | |
| Possession | 75% | 25% |
| Total Shots | 25 | 4 |
| Shots on Target | 9 | 2 |
| Corners | 10 | 2 |
| Fouls | 12 | 10 |
| Offsides | 0 | 4 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Even though a heavily shorthanded team struggled against Villanovense in the first leg, Luis Enrique trusted his less-used players once again in the return leg. The likes of Adriano Correia, Munir and Marc Bartra were joined by two members of Barça B, Sergi Samper and Aitor Cantalapiedra. The only two regulars that featured from the opening minute were Javier Mascherano and Alves.
There were worries that Lucho would have to call on his big gun reinforcements that were left on the bench because a similar team to the one fielded today struggled to break through Villanovense’s organized defense in October. But those fears were quickly put to rest as just four minute into the game Alves powered the hosts into the lead. Lining up about 40-yards from goal, Alves sent a strong shot on goal that the goalkeeper reacted poorly to and despite getting a hand on it José Fuentes couldn’t keep the ball from crossing the line.
Villanovense didn’t panic as they knew that a one-all tie would still, shockingly, see them through to the next round, but Barça’s press for a bigger lead didn’t let down. First Samper tried his luck from distance. Then, in the 18th minute, after a lovely cross from Alves, Sandro sent a strong header on goal, but Fuentes made the save. But Fuentes had no such luck three minutes later, as his poor pass was intercepted by Sandro and laced into the top corner to double Barcelona’s lead.
But the visitors wouldn’t go quietly into the night and in the 29th minute the Segunda B side pulled one back. Juanfran was given too much space by the left side of the Barcelona defense and he wasted no time in putting his 25-yard shot past Jordi Masip and inside the far post. Though the celebrations on the visitors’ bench wouldn’t last long as just two minutes later Barcelona restored the two goal lead. Aitor stole the ball away in midfield, won some space before sending a perfect through ball right into the path of Sandro who again made no mistake to complete his first brace for the first team. It was also Aitor’s first assist for Barcelona.
That would make the end of the frantic scoring pace of the first half as the score-line would not change again before the break. Both teams managed to get close to the opposing goals, but neither goalkeeper was called into action.
The second half started with one change in the Barcelona XI. Lucho left Alves in the locker room for some much deserved rest and replaced him with Gerard Gumbau. As a result of the substitution Adriano moved from midfield to a more familiar right-back spot.
It didn’t take long for the scoring to resume as just six minutes after the restart, Barcelona scored their fourth of the night. Jeremy Mathieu sent a perfect high cross in front of goal where Munir was in great position to win the aerial duel and beat the Villanovense goalkeeper with a well-placed header to score his first goal since August 2014. Barcelona almost quickly added another one, as a gorgeous long pass from Mascherano found Adriano open in the area, but after showing good control the Brazilian couldn’t direct the shot on goal.
With the game all but won Barcelona calmly went about their business and slowly but surely continued to inch their way closer Fuentes’ goal. In the 69th minute, after some lovely moves by Samper deep in the penalty area, the youngster’s pass into the middle was poorly cleared and fell right to Sandro who wasted no time and powered it past two defenders and the goalkeeper to complete the hat-trick.
Barcelona’s relentless scoring pace would not stop there as just seven minutes after the last goal the Catalans would add their sixth. Once again Sandro would be the main figure, though this time he would turn provider. Send through on goal by a lovely long pass from Adriano, Sandro could’ve gone for goal on his own, but he unselfishly sent it back to the trailing Munir who calmly sent the ball past two helpless defenders that were left guarding the wide open net.
Shortly thereafter, Lucho received some bad news, as Mathieu left the pitch injured, and not willing to risk any further unnecessary injures to one of his stars on the bench, the coach decided to finish the match with 10 players.
A man down and the foot now completely off the gas, Villanovense were able to play some football in Barcelona’s half, but more than a threatening shot from a free kick that was handled by Masip the visitors couldn’t manage. And with the 6-1 win Barcelona are through to the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, which will be played in January 2016.
Roll Call:
| Roll Call Info | |
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