Spain The reigning La Liga champions continued to be lackluster after a hard-fought 3-2 win at Barbastro in the 1/16 round of the Spanish King's Cup.
Barca are expected to win big at Gminny Stadium on January 7 due to the difference in class and squad depth between the two teams. Barca is the club with the most tradition in the history of the King's Cup with 31 Cup wins, eight more than the next club, Bilbao. Xavi's team is also the current La Liga champion and the Spanish Super Cup champion.
Lewandowski scored a penalty to make it 3-1 as Barca defeated fourth-tier Barbastro in the round of 32 of the Spanish King's Cup at Gminny Stadium on January 7. Photo: FC Barcelona
Meanwhile, Barbastro - a club founded in 1934 - competes in Segunda Federacion, officially known as Segunda B, the fourth tier of the Spanish football league system consisting of 90 teams divided into five groups.
In the last round of the Copa del Rey, Barbastro shocked La Liga side Almeria with a lone goal from Franc Carbonell. But few expected the club to continue their surprise against Barca.
At Gminny yesterday, Barca dominated possession with 73% of the ball, taking 24 shots with 11 on target. But they continued to show problems in both attack and defense, scoring only three goals and allowing Barbastro to score twice from three shots on target.
After the opening whistle, the visitors maintained the pressure and took the lead in the 18th minute. Raphinha drove down the right wing and crossed for Fermin Lopez to connect with his left foot diagonally, opening the scoring. Lopez has scored three goals in 19 appearances, becoming the first Barca player to score in all three competitions this season: La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey.
Fermin Lopez celebrates scoring the opening goal in the 3-2 win over Barbastro in the round of 32 of the Spanish King's Cup on January 7. Photo: FC Barcelona
In the 51st minute, from a cross from the left wing by 17-year-old defender Hector Fort, Raphinha rushed in and finished close to the goal to double the gap. Less than ten minutes later, Barbastro unexpectedly shortened the gap. From a chaotic situation in the penalty area, striker Adria de Mesa quickly kicked the ball into the net of goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
In the 87th minute, the visitors restored their two-goal lead when substitute striker Robert Lewandowski's header hit defender Barbastro's hand, giving Barca a penalty. The Polish striker himself took the responsibility for the penalty kick and he kicked it low into the right corner, contrary to Arnau Fabrega's prediction.
But Barca still left Gminny Stadion Sportowy with a narrow victory. In the second minute of stoppage time, it was Barbastro's turn to be awarded a penalty when Fermin Lopez committed a foul in the box. On the 11m mark, Marc Prat shot hard into the middle, while Inaki Pena went to the right. But the home team could not find an equalizer in the short time remaining.
Line-up :
Barbastro : Fabrega, Garcia, Jaime, Mingotes, Carbonell (Reques 66), Gasco, Garcia (Crespo 66), Bautista (Soule 46), Gonpi (Val), Javito, De Mesa Garrido (Prat 71).
Barca : Pena, Christensen (Martinez 64, Roberto 75), Araujo, Fort, Kounde, Romeu (Gundogan 72), De Jong, Lopez, Torres, Felix (Lewandowski 72), Raphinha (Roque 64).
Hong Duy
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