A little hand in Ceuta and ticket for the rooms

In the lesson learned from the cup debut against Intercity, the FC Barcelona sealed the pass to the quarterfinals of Copa del Rey after losing with solvency (0-5) the AD Ceutathe only team from the First RFEF still in the competition and enjoyed a historic night with the visiting Catalan team after more than 12 years. Xavi Hernandez want to rest most of the starters after the effort in the Super Cup and only Lewandowskisuspended for the next two league games, returned to the lineup in Ceuta. Inaki Pena he returned to grab the goal after playing against Intercity; Bellerin, Eric Garcia, Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba formed the defensive line; while Sergi Roberto acted as a pivot with the interiors Kessie and Pablo Torre and Ferran Torres and Raphinha occupied the extremes.

Pushed by a loyal crowd that filled the Alfonso Murube Stadium to the brim, and also the nearby balconies, AD Ceuta came out on the field with great impetus and put Barça in some trouble in the early stages of the game. The circulation of the ball was not continuous due to the good defensive approach of the locals and the small size of the field, but gradually the Catalans became comfortable. Barça’s first dangerous approach came after ten minutes, after some good individual play by Bellerín on the right, but his cross in the center of the area was finished by Raphinha, the most active in attack for the visitors.

However, AD Ceuta did not lose face in the match, with some quality details from young Jota, and after half an hour they enjoyed a good chance with a powerful header from Rodri, former of Barça B in the 2011-12 season, the exit. a corner but his shot hit the side of the net.

Raphinha broke the wall

After the threat from the Ceuta crowd, Xavi decided to switch sides with Raphinha and Ferran Torres and in one of the Brazilian’s first actions down the left he came close to beating Mejías with a shot that went wide of the area when did not find a purpose. That was Raphinha’s second warning and for the third she was unforgiving. Back on the right wing, with five minutes before the break, the ’22’ from Barcelona received a pass from Kessie and had space to set up a shot from the edge, beating Mejías with a very close that shot, who came close to touching the ball before it slid into his goal. The goal was a well-deserved reward for Barça’s pressing and also caused the locals to lose a bit of the form they showed in the first half.

With the score 0-1 at halftime and after the restart, Xavi opted to bring on Gavi instead of Pablo Torre, who couldn’t offer the version he had against Intercity, and Barça put another gear into the match . After a fresh shot from Raphinha went into the top corner, Lewandowski made it 0-2 to put qualification for the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on track. The Pole took advantage of a fresh pass from Kessie after good pressure to score his first cup goal on his debut in the competition.

With a two-goal advantage on the scoreboard, Barça dedicated themselves to controlling their revenue and Xavi gave Ansu Fati half-time, who replaced Ferran, so that he could continue adding to the good feelings. The Barca ’10’ proved himself once again with a great goal that served to end the tie. As a result 0-3 draw and unbeaten, AD Ceuta were more daring but to no avail and Kessie made it 0-4 with a header from Raphinha’s cross.

Debut of Alarcón and small hand

With the ticket for the quarterfinals already secured, Xavi had a nice detail with young striker Ángel Alarcón, who made his debut in the first team. Ansu had a good chance to sign his hand, but Lewandowski rounded off the winner with his brace in the 90′. Xavi stressed in the preview the importance of having continuity in the game and the victory in Ceuta to advance to the Copa del Rey round reaffirms that the team is on the right track to achieve its goals at the end of the season.

AD CEUTA

05

FC BARCELONA

– AD Ceuta: Mejias; Alain, Robin (Danese, 68′), Juan Gutiérrez, David Alfonso; Reyna, Adri Cuevas (Pablo, 57′); Aisar (Luismi, 57′), Jota (July, 57′), Ñito; and Rodri (Casais, .
The
– FC Barcelona: Iñaki Peña; Bellerín, Eric Garcia, Marcos Alonso (Christensen, 73′), Jordi Alba; Sergi Roberto (Busquets, 73′), Kessie, Pablo Torre (Gavi, 46′); Raphinha (Alarcón, 80′), Lewandowski and Ferran Torres (Ansu Fati, 60′).
The
– the objectives: 0-1, Raphinha (41′); 0-2, Lewandowski (50′); 0-3, Ansu Fati (70′); 0-4, Kessie (77′); 0-5, Lewandowski (90′).
The
– viewers: 6,500 at the Alfonso Murube Stadium.
The
– Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (c. Valencian). Cards in Ñito (39′)

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