Barcelona 3-2 Espanyol
Barcelona almost blew a three-goal lead at the Nou Camp, going through to the last four of the Copa del Rey despite an incredible fightback from neighbours Espanyol.
Barca looked to be cruising to a characteristic demolition of lesser opposition when teenage sensation Bojan Krkic scored either side of the break, and when Gerard Pique added a third on 56 minutes it allseemed to be over for Espanyol.
But a goal from Ferran Corominas just two minutes later gave them hope: an unusual shot hit into the ground that ended up spinning up and over a group of players into the Barcelona net.
And when Jose Callejon scored with an utterly superb 35-yard strike ten minutes later it seemed that the impossible comeback was on.
Espanyol kept pushing madly for the equaliser that would give them an away-goals win, whilst Barcelona threw on previosly absent stars Samuel Eto'o and Andres Iniesta as they sought to re-establish their comfort zone.
In the end, however, neither side could add to the tally. Espanyol's brave effort earned them rousing applause from all sections of the crowd, while Barcelona will cross themselves and look forward to their semi-final clash against Mallorca.
Sevilla 2-1 Valencia
Sebastien Squillaci scored a last-minute winner to give 2007 champions Sevilla a 2-1 victory over holders Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final and a place in the last four.
After last week's first leg at the Mestalla ended 3-2, Valencia looked to be cruising when a header from captain Carlos Marchena put them in front in the eighth minute in Seville, opening up a 4-2 aggregate lead.
But Frederic Kanoute equalised before the break when his header from a Ndri Romaric freekick beat Cesar Sanchez to make it 1-1 on the night.
Sevilla missed several chances before Squillaci was in the right place to hook Renato's corner in from close range in the 90th minute and set up a last-four clash on away goals against Athletic Bilbao.
The semi-finals take place over two legs, with the first leg next week and the second in the first week of March.
Articles
