Lionel Messi marks return with goal as Barca come from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano | Football News

MADRID: Lionel Messi marked his return from suspension with a objective within the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as Barcelona survived a scare in opposition to Rayo Vallecano to achieve the quarter-finals.
With Actual Madrid and Atletico Madrid already out, one other upset regarded on the playing cards when Fran Garcia gave Rayo a shock lead at Vallecas early within the second half.
However Messi tapped in Antoine Griezmann’s move to equalise earlier than turning creator, sending Jordi Alba by means of, with Frenkie de Jong on the again publish to seal a 2-1 victory.
Rayo sit fourth in Segunda, Spain’s second tier, after being relegated from the highest flight in 2019, with their followers and gamers at loggerheads with the membership’s president Raul Martin Presa amid the membership’s dramatic decline.

A victory over Barcelona, 30-time winners of the competitors and now sturdy favourites to make it 31, would have delivered a short enhance to morale, even when this compelling cup tie by no means had the stress it deserved with out the bottom’s often raucous followers.
Nonetheless, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman might be relieved to have made it to the quarter-finals and to see Messi on course once more, the Argentinian taking his tally for the season to fifteen.
Messi had sat out the earlier two video games suspended after being despatched off within the Spainsh Tremendous Cup closing defeat by Athletic Bilbao however regarded refreshed and finally made the distinction once more.
There have been much less optimistic outings for Riqui Puig, Francisco Trincao and Junior Firpo, who all missed a chance to impress Koeman, who promptly whisked all three off after Rayo took the lead.

Within the final eight, Barca be part of Sevilla, who had earlier made gentle work of struggling Valencia.
Valencia have been crushed 3-0, their focus now on avoiding relegation from La Liga.
Actual Betis, Villarreal and Levante additionally progressed on Tuesday.
Barca hit the woodwork twice within the first half. De Jong flicked a end onto the crossbar and Puig struck the publish after Trincao’s shot spilled out.
Messi was gathering the ball from deep and driving by means of midfield however each he and the weaving Puig have been usually annoyed by a dedicated and aggressive Rayo defence.

Rayo rode their luck too, one other effort grazing the crossbar early within the second half, this time from Messi, who opted to curve a free-kick in direction of the highest nook from large on the precise.
However Rayo survived and when their first probability got here, they took it. Breaking at pace, the ball was performed large to Alvaro Garcia, who stopped after which went once more, leaving Clement Lenglet for useless.
His fired cross was fumbled by Neto, with Fran Garcia in the precise place for a tap-in.
Koeman responded by throwing Jordi Alba, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele on for Puig, Firpo and Trincao.
Alba pulled again for Pedri after which De Jong threaded by means of Griezmann, who regarded up and gave Messi an open objective on the again publish.
The substitutes took Barca to a special gear and 10 minutes later, the comeback was full as Messi clipped a spinning ball excessive for Alba to run onto and he slid a move for De Jong to attain his fourth objective in seven video games.