Barcelona’s 4-0 win over third-tier SD Huesca on Wednesday night virtually guaranteed their advancement to the next round of the Copa del Rey. Andres Iniesta scored in his comeback from injury.
S. D. Huesca Contra Barcelona
A makeshift Barca team saw Andres Iniesta, who had been out for over a month with a calf injury, start and score a beautiful goal in the 16th minute to double their lead. Ivan Rakitic had scored the first goal four minutes earlier on a well-taken free kick.
The goal was scored six minutes before halftime by Pedro, who was starting up front for Barcelona. The fourth goal, scored in the second half by Rafinha.
Manager Luis Enrique Decided to Rest his Key Strikers Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez for Tonight’s Game.
After this victory, Barcelona is in excellent position to continue on in the Copa del Rey. In the second match, on December 16 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, the same two clubs will face each other again. The two-legged winner advances to play either Valladolid or Elche.
But first, on Sunday, Barcelona will host Espanyol in a La Liga match. Currently, the Blaugrana are two points behind the league-leading Real Madrid.
As early as the 12th minute, Rakitic’s stunning free-kick put Barcelona ahead. Rakitic took aim from way outside the area, to the right of centre, and buried his shot into the top corner to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Barca hasn’t looked back since. Four minutes later, Iniesta made it 2-0 when he scored on a first-time shot from the edge of the box, after Rakitic had been set up by Pedro’s deft backheel.
In the 37th minute, Rakitic’s free-kick hit the post and almost resulted in a second goal for the visitors.
At the 39-minute mark, Pedro scored Barcelona’s third goal. Pedro received a pass from Iniesta on the left wing, cut inside, and buried a bouncing shot inside the near post.
Even after halftime, Barcelona continued to dominate play, and in the 72nd minute, they scored a fourth goal. Inserted midfielder Sergi Roberto sped past the middle of the Huesca defence and found Rafinha on the right. Rafinha got in on goal and had a shot that was deflected in at the near post as he cut inside.
Last Words
In the 83rd minute, Huesca’s Guillem Marti was put in a good position to score a consolation goal following a Barcelona turnover. Marc Bartra, a defender for Barcelona, moved over to stop Marti’s shot as he prepared to take it. After Juan Eduardo Esnaider’s shot was saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, the rebound came back to him.
In the 88th minute, after Barcelona failed to clear a cross, Jesus David Sosa volleyed high over the bar for the home team.
In added time, Barcelona scored again, but Sandro Ramirez’s close-range effort was rightfully called offside.
