Barça is activated by force in the Cup
Xavi’s men surpass in extra time a debut with goals (3-4) and required against CF Intercity to advance to the round of 16
MADRID, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona resolved (3-4) with an unexpected dispute against FC Intercity its debut this Wednesday in the Copa del Rey to access the round of 16, with the goals and leadership shared by Ronald Araujo and Ousmane Dembélé, despite a Solde’s triplet that made the ‘king of cups’ rub his eyes.
Xavi Hernández’s team had a punch but also gave away behind, turning the crossover with the Primera RFEF team into a coin in the air at times. Barça, the team with the most titles in the KO tournament (31), won the game due to quality and success, but it took a lot and an extension, despite the several chances it was amassing, especially at Dembélé’s feet.
Rico Pérez, the home of Hércules, had a festive but calm atmosphere, with a lot of Barça fans, far from being bullied. The culé trap was falling asleep, with the score in favor from minute 4 and an inferior rival on paper. The header from a corner kick was not the only remarkable thing about Araujo, being the central defender also decisive at the back, in his return after injury and after going to the World Cup with Uruguay but not playing.
The South American acted as boss and also brought out the best home team under the sticks, a shot from Aarón Piñán that slipped into the net. Barça, with Pablo Torre and Memphis in the eleven and without Pedri or Lewandowski, played well and quickly but that warning from Piñán soon arrived. Dembélé’s races helped Xavi’s men not to fall into lethargy but the Frenchman forgave a lot.
At the restart, despite the Frenchman’s dribbling over the local goal, Intercity changed the plan to a more offensive version, playing in the opposite field and recovering danger balls. Barça’s seams were visible and Solde, man of the match, made it 1-1.
Xavi moved the bench with Gavi, Rapinha and an Eric García who did not give the same security as Araujo, and soon found the answer in the umpteenth of Dembélé (1-2). The Frenchman defined perfectly, chipping the ball in front of the goalkeeper, but the game went crazy. Solde, like a culé nightmare, neutralized the Frenchman’s goal and appeared once again to match the one that Rapinha achieved later, after an assist from an Alba who left a great performance.
The clash went to extra time with a Barça overturned, attacking with everything, but neglecting behind. Intercity touched the feat but the besieged culé claimed the 3-4 with Ansu Fati. Xavi’s team forcibly put their batteries into a cup start that, yes, still reminds them of the Cup won with Koeman based on extensions.
DATASHEET:
–RESULT: FC INTERCITY, 3 – FC BARCELONA, 4. (0-1, at rest).
–TEAMS:
FC INTERCITY: Gaizka; G. Jaime (Nsue, min.82), Vadik, Álvaro (Frank Angong, min.94), Rafa Gálvez (Herrera, rest), Christ; Bellotti, Miguel Marí, Aarón Piñán (Xemi, min.67); Solde and Pol Roigé (Koffi, min.65).
FC BARCELONA: Inaki Peña; Bellerín (Marcos Alonso, min.84), Araujo (Eric García, min.60), Koundé, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Kessié, Pablo Torre (Gavi, min.60); Dembélé (Balde, min.105), Memphis (Ansu Fati, min.74) and Ferran (Rapinha, min.60).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.4, Araujo.
1 – 1, min.59, Solde.
1 – 2, min.66, Dembélé.
2 – 2, min.74, Solde.
2 – 3, min.77, Rapinha.
3 – 3, min.86, Solde.
3 – 4, min. 104, Ansu Fati.
–REFEREE: Pizarro Gómez (C. Madrid) Admonished Pablo Torre (min.50) at Barça.
–STADIUM: Rico Perez.