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Lionel Messi marked his return from suspension with a aim 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 appeared 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 go to equalise earlier than turning creator, sending Jordi Alba by way of, with Frenkie de Jong on the again put up 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 decline.
A victory over Barcelona, 30-time winners of the competitors and now robust favourites to make it 31, would have delivered a quick enhance to morale, even when this compelling cup tie by no means had the strain it deserved with out the bottom’s normally raucous followers.
Nonetheless, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman will probably be relieved to have made it to the quarter-finals and to see Messi on the right track once more, the Argentinian taking his tally for the season to fifteen targets.
Messi had sat out the earlier two video games suspended after being despatched off within the Spanish Tremendous Cup remaining defeat by Athletic Bilbao however appeared refreshed and finally made the distinction once more.
There have been much less constructive outings for Riqui Puig, Francisco Trincao and Junior Firpo, who all missed a possibility to impress Koeman, who promptly whisked all three off after Rayo took the lead.
Koeman was stuffed with reward for De Jong.
“He is a extra full participant now. In addition to constructing from behind, his skill to reach within the field on the proper moments helps us to create and above all rating targets,” stated the Barcelona coach.
“We’re nonetheless within the cup and we’re recovering our stage within the league. Now we have to maintain going.”
Within the final eight, Barca be part of Sevilla, who had earlier made gentle work of struggling Valencia.
Valencia had been overwhelmed 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 put up after Trincao’s shot spilled out.
Messi was amassing the ball from deep and driving by way of midfield however each he and the weaving Puig had 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 huge on the correct.
However Rayo survived and when their first probability got here, they took it. Breaking at velocity, the ball was performed huge 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 correct 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 way of Griezmann, who appeared up and gave Messi an open aim on the again put up.
The substitutes took Barca to a distinct 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 go for De Jong to attain his fourth aim in seven video games.
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