Barcelona Reach Copa Del Rey Semifinal With 5-2 Win Over Real Sociedad

Barcelona secured a spot in the Copa Del Rey semifinals with a 5-2 home victory over Real Sociedad in Thursday’s second-leg game, thus making the aggregate score 6-2 after last week’s 1-0 first-leg win.

Barcelona Reach Copa Del Rey Semifinal With 5-2 Win Over Real Sociedad

Neymar scored the lone goal on a penalty in the first-leg quarter-final on Jan. 19.

Former Manchester City star Denis Suarez opened scoring for Barca in the 17th minute with a low finish.

Lionel Messi doubled the lead ten minutes after halftime on a penalty for his 29th goal of the season.

Real Sociedad’s Juanmi made it 2-1 in the 62nd minute, but Luis Suarez scored for Barcelona one minute later to give the Catalans another two-goal lead.

Willian Jose headed in Real’s second goal in the 73rd, but then Arda Turan netted seven minutes later to make it 4-2 and then Denis Suarez scored his second goal of the game in the 83rd to make it 5-2. Turan tapped in a cross from fellow substitute Aleix Vidal at the back post.

Neymar, Luis Suarez, and Real’s Carlos Vela all narrowly avoided red cards.

Tensions rose just before halftime when Vela and Neymar went head-to-head after Real’s Mexican star fouled his Brazilian opponent.

Barcelona, who have won the Copa del Rey a record 28 times, are through to the semi-finals for the seventh straight season.

Manager Luis Enrique’s team join 10-time champions Atletico Madrid, Celta Vigo– who eliminated Real Madrid– and Alaves in Friday’s draw.

Manager Eusebio Sacristan’s Real Sociedad, meanwhile, are merely six points behind Barca in La Liga’s standings, and they are working towards their first cup final appearance since 1988.

Denis Suarez, a 23-year-old Spanish midfielder, reflected on his time with Barcelona and then on Thursday’s game.

“I came with a desire to be a part of this team and I am feeling better and better,” he said. “We started the game by dominating and once it was 1-0 they left us plenty of space. Everything is easier when you have the three forwards we have. We weren’t nervous at all, we just wanted to dominate the game and continue on this great run that we’re on.”

Barca will next visit Real Betis in Sunday’s La Liga match, and then visit Atletico in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semifinal.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 26: Denis Suarez of FC Barcelona scores his team’s fifth goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on January 26, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)