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News Archive

Copa del Rey, fifth round, second leg

Barcelona completed the formalities on a foggy Thursday night in Pamplona, a 1-2 victory over Osasuna setting up a quarter final tie with arch rivals Real Madrid. Four down from the first leg, local coach Medilibar decided to rest some of his first choice players. And even though Lekic gave them a faint hope of a turn-around with the opening goal close to half time, strikes by Alexis and Sergi Roberto after the break put the result beyond doubt. Earlier in the evening Athletic Bilbao had secured their place in the last eight with a comfortable 4-0 win over second division B side Albacete. Susaeta gave them the lead midway through the first half, and goals by Ander, Toquero and San José after the break wrapped things up. Athletic meet Joaquín Caparrós's Mallorca in next week's quarter-final. (12.01.12)

More drama in the cup on Wednesday evening, with Espanyol scraping through in the last minute after beating Córdoba 4-2. Alvaro Vázquez scored two early on, and when Didac netted a third with ten minutes to go to the break the Catalans seemed to be cruising. But strikes either side of half time by Alberto and Pepe Díaz put the Andalusians ahead on away goals, and it was not until two minutes from the end that Alvaro lobbed Arias to complete a hat-trick and take his side through to a quarter final meeting with Mirandés. Earlier in the evening Levante had no problems seeing off Alcorcón, Barkero, Roger, Iborra and Rubén Suárez the scorers in a 4-0 victory. Juan Ignacio Martínez's side will play city rivals Valencia in the next round after the Ches went through on the away goal rule despite losing 2-1 at Sevilla. Soldado got the all important goal midway through the second half, and although Rakitic equalised soon afterwards and Víctor Ruíz put through his own net in injury time, the Andalusians were always going to be a goal short. (11.01.12)

A sensational night of cup football to kick off the second leg matches, with regional second division B side Mirandés creating a little bit of history after drawing 1-1 at Racing Santander to go through to the last eight 3-1 on aggregate. Munitis gave the Cantabrians hope of overturning the first leg defeat, but after Bernardo was sent off, day-time bank manager Pablo Infante converted a late penalty to put the result beyond the reach of the hosts. Mirandés will play the winner of the tie between Espanyol and Córdoba next week. Mallorca kicked off their match against Real Sociedad two goals down, and when Ifrán headed in an away goal on the quarter hour mark it appeared to be all over. But incredibly Mallorca scored four in a seven minute period before the break, Chori Castro (2), Hemed and Nunes the scorers, and two more from Alfaro and Hemed in the first quarter of an hour after the restart made it 6-1 to the islanders in the end. Later in the evening defending champions Real Madrid made it through to a probable quarter-final meeting with arch-rivals Barcelona after a 0-1 win over Málaga. After the 3-2 result in the first leg, the outcome was in doubt until twenty minutes from the end, when Caballero let a soft shot from substitute Benzema through his hands. Three more matches take place tomorrow, with the remaining two ties to be played on Thursday evening. (10.01.12)