Messi Inspires Rout as Barcelona Book Quarter-Final Spot
Written by MaxFM on January 12, 2018
Messi Inspires Rout as Holders Book Quarter-Final Spot
Barcelona cruised into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 second-leg rout of Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Thursday.
A 1-1 draw from the first match in Galicia had left the tie looking open, but a devastating first-half performance from the holders secured their 6-1n aggregate victory.
Lionel Messi scored twice before Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic completed the victory, ensuring Barca’s treble hopes remain alive.
Messi netted twice in two minutes inside the opening quarter of an hour, steering home from two Alba crosses, before he returned the favour with a sumptuous pass that the full=-back to score his second goal of the season.
Suarez pounced on a mistake to make it 4-0 before the interval and leave club-record signing Phillipe Coutinho applauding from his seat n the stands.
Celta improved a little after half-time, but the damage had been done long before Rakitic’s header completed the rout, meaning Barca will join Deportivo Alaves, Leganes, Real Madrid, Espanyol, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Valencia in the last eight.
