The second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final between Barcelona and Levante took place at the Camp Nou this evening.
The Catalan outfit entered the match as the overwhelming favourites to book their spot in the next round following a 4-1 win in Valencia last week.
Levante stunned the Spanish champions by taking the lead on the night early on through Loukas Vyntra, but Adriano levelled just before the 30-minute mark.
Barcelona took a lead into the interval when Carlos Puyol headed home from inside the box, before Alexis Sanchez scored twice in the early stages of the second half to make it 4-1 on the night.
It then got worse for Levante when Cesc Fabregas made it 5-1 as Barcelona triumphed 9-2 on aggregate.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Our Copa del Rey quarter-final coverage continues at the Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Levante for the second leg. The home side will enter the match as the strong favourites to advance into the semi-finals following their 4-1 win in the first leg last week. In truth, only a minor miracle will stop them from moving into the final four.
Barcelona have won all but one of their home games in all competitions this season, with their only blot arriving back in August when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Since then, in La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, they boast a perfect winning record. That is the task facing Levante this evening.
The visitors will draw confidence from their last match on the road as they ended Sevilla’s eight-match unbeaten run in La Liga with a 3-2 win at the weekend. The Valencia-based outfit also held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw when the pair met in the league earlier this month, but they lost 7-0 on their last visit to the Camp Nou on the opening weekend of this season.
TEAMS:
BARCELONA: Pinto; Montoya, Puyol, Bartra, Adriano; Song, Roberto, Iniesta; Tello, Fabregas, Sanchez
LEVANTE: Jimenez; Juanfran, Vyntra, Karabelas, Nagore; El Adoua, Pinto, Rios; Garcia, Camarasa, Angel
So there we have it. No Lionel Messi in the Barcelona XI, but Alex Song, Sergi Roberto, Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya all start. Levante, meanwhile, start with Ruben Garcia, Camarasa and Angel in a three-pronged attack. Right, the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken. The away side will get the first period underway.
Not a full house inside the stadium this evening - far from it in fact - but Barcelona will be keen to put on a show. As expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes with Song, Iniesta and Fabregas all exchanging passes outside the box.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the opening four minutes, but it has been one-way traffic with the home side in complete control of the ball. Just a reminder that Barcelona lead 4-1 from the first leg and therefore even 3-0 for Levante would not move them into the next round.
Montoya takes matters into his own hands with a deep cross into the Levante box, but Jimenez collects under pressure from Tello. The referee has been more involved than he would have liked, meanwhile, due to a number of late challenges in the middle of the park.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Barcelona to take the lead as Tello latches onto a loose ball inside the box, but Jimenez is out to make a fine save at the vital moment. High intensity to this match with eight minutes on the clock.
GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Levante (Vyntra)
Wow! Levante take the lead in the Camp Nou as Vyntra rises inside the box before thumping his header into the bottom corner. Although replays have shown that it took a big deflection off Barca midfielder Roberto.
Well, that is one for Levante! They only need another four this evening. Once more Barcelona are undone by poor defending from a set piece. The home side break down the other end with Roberto moments later, but his through pass is collected by Jimenez at the vital moment.
The referee has been a central figure thus far as he continues to deal with a number of late challenges. Roberto becomes the first name to enter his book following a late challenge on Pinto in the middle of the park. Levante are playing with confidence following the opener as they continue to pass and probe.
Half-chance for the home side as Fabregas strikes one from outside the box, but his effort is blocked by Vyntra. Fabregas turns provider for Sanchez moments later, but the Chilean just loses control at the vital moment and the danger is cleared. It remains 1-0 Levante with 17 minutes on the clock.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Roberto to level on the night as the midfielder collects a pass from Sanchez before attempting to find the top corner, but his effort is pushed over the crossbar by Jimenez, who clears the resulting corner with an impressive punch. End-to-end football as Levante break with Angel.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments with Levante fairly comfortable in dealing with each Barcelona attack. The home side have the chance to deliver a free kick into the Levante box moments later, but it is played short and eventually breaks down. Little over 20 minutes of the first period remaining at the Camp Nou.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona, but they are not really threatening to hurt Levante in forward areas. Just a reminder that the away side need to score another three times without replay to advance into the semi-finals. A little sense of complacency from Barcelona at the moment.
Opportunity for Barcelona to threaten from a free kick as Fabregas is felled outside the box by Pinto. The resulting set piece is taken by Tello, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar. It must be said that there is not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium with 26 minutes on the clock.
The free-kick count continues to rise as Iniesta is felled by Pinto, with the Levante midfielder picking up a yellow card. The resulting set piece is played short to Fabregas, but once more the move breaks down. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining at the Camp Nou.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Levante (Adriano)
Barcelona break the Camp Nou silence as Adriano collects a pass from Fabregas before rattling a wonderful effort into the bottom corner. It is harsh on Levante, but that is football at this level.
Hardly anyone inside the stadium this evening, but those in attendance enjoyed that strike from Adriano. Levante now need three goals to take this game into extra-time. It remains an incredibly open fixture with the contest flowing from end-to-end.
Not good news for Levante as they are forced into a change in the latter stages of the first period. Sergio Pinto is the player departing, with Nono entering the field. Little over 10 minutes of the first half remaining in what has been an open Copa del Rey contest.
Barcelona continue to dominate the possession as they pass and probe outside the box, but Levante are closing the gaps in the final third. Song attempts to thread a pass towards Tello moments later, but Jimenez is out to collect under pressure from Sanchez.
Just a reminder that the winner of this tie will face either Real Sociedad or Racing de Santander in the semi-finals. The first semi-final has already been decided with Real Madrid facing Atletico Madrid in a rematch of last year's final. That should be some contest.
Half-chance for the home side as Adriano delivers a deep cross towards Sanchez, but Vyntra is on hand to clear the danger. Barca continue to pass and probe, but another attack comes to an end when Iniesta's through pass goes out for a goal kick. Little under five minutes of the first period remaining.
The referee has been forced to issue a couple of cards in the last minute or two with Song in the book for Barcelona and Camarasa for Levante. The home side continue to dominate the possession, but it is like a training exercise without the end product.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Levante (Puyol)
Barcelona take the lead in the latter stages of the first period as skipper Puyol heads home following a corner. It was a terrific leap from the Spanish centre-back.
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 2-1 Levante
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to an end with Barcelona leading 2-1 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate. Levante took the lead through Vyntra after nine minutes, but goals from Adriano and Puyol have left the home side with a lead at the break.
STATISTICS: The home side have utterly dominated the possession with 81%, while they have had seven attempts to Levante's one. It has been a feisty half in terms of challenges, meanwhile, with the referee on hand to issue four yellow cards.
BENCH WATCH: Barcelona have an embarrassment of riches on their bench this evening with the likes of Pedro, Messi, Afellay and Alba all in reserve. Meanwhile, Levante have options in the shape of Pedro Lopez, Diawara and Jordi Lopez, but they have already been forced into a change with Nong replacing the injured Pinto.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. As it stands, Barcelona lead 6-2 on aggregate. Can Levante secure what would be a famous win in the Camp Nou? The home side get the second period underway on this cold, rainy evening in Catalonia.
One change for Barcelona at the interval as Pedro replaces Iniesta, who has just returned from an injury, which kept him on the sidelines for four matches. In truth, this game is over as a contest. Let's just hope the intensity remains high. Levante can open up and attack Barcelona knowing that they do not have much to lose at the Camp Nou.
Possession football from the home side in the last few moments as they keep the ball just outside the Levante box. Tello is the target from a long pass from Song, but it skids off the surface and behind for a goal kick as the rain continues to fall. Dreadful conditions in Barcelona this evening.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Levante (Sanchez)
Barcelona score their third as Jimenez fumbles an effort from Montoya, with Sanchez on hand to tap home from close range. Poor goalkeeping from the Spaniard.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Levante (Sanchez)
Barcelona have their fourth and Sanchez has his second as the Chilean latches onto a save from Jimenez before tapping home from close range. The Levante stopper had kicked an Adriano effort onto the bar, but Sanchez was on hand to score.
Well, I think that might be game over! Barcelona now lead 8-2 on aggregate and it would not be a surprise to see that made worse. Levante lost 7-0 in this stadium on the opening weekend of the season and a similar score could be on the cards.
CHANCE! Bartra attempts the spectacular for Barcelona as he rises inside the box before meeting the ball with a bicycle kick, but Vyntra just does enough at the vital moment. Little over 30 minutes of this Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg remaining in Catalonia.
Another half-chance for the home side as Fabregas threads a through pass towards Sanchez, but Juanfran is across to clear at the vital moment. The resulting corner is delivered towards Song, but his header is wide of the post. Levante just want this match to end as the pressure continues.
Levante make their second change of the match as Pallardo replaces Angel, who has had little service this evening. Rios has an opportunity to score Levante's second moments later after meeting a cross from Nagore, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar.
CHANCE! Opportunity for Pedro to open his tally for the evening as the Barcelona winger advances into the box, but Jimenez is on hand to make a fine save at his near post. It is almost like a training exercise at the moment as the home side continue to keep possession of the ball.
Pedro remains the main outlet for the home side as he drives down the right before finding Fabregas on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard cannot return the favour. Levante have 10 players behind the ball as they attempt to keep the score down, but it is contributing to a fairly lacklustre match.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-1 Levante (Fabregas)
The home side have their fifth of the evening as Fabregas converts from inside the box following smart work from Sanchez. That proves to be Fabregas's final piece of action as Afellay continues his comeback from the bench. This could get a lot worse for Levante.
A mistake from Nagore almost hands another shooting chance to Sanchez, but the Chilean cannot gather control at the vital moment. Levante just cannot get out of their own half at the moment as the Catalan outfit continue to smother the ball.
Levante make their third and final change as Garcia is replaced by Jordi Lopez, who makes his debut this evening. Levante enjoy a period of possession in the Barcelona half moments later, but the attack comes to an end when Roberto clears up in front of his defence.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of moments, but Barcelona remain in control of the ball. Montoya continues to threaten as he drives a low cross into the box, but Javi Lopez is on hand to clear the danger at the vital moment.
Barcelona make their third and final change as Javier Mascherano replaces Sanchez, who will not have the chance to score another hat trick this evening. Can Mascherano finally score his first goal for Barcelona? He might not get a better opportunity.
Possession football from Barcelona as they continue to keep the ball outside the Levante box, but no real chances to speak of since Fabregas scored their fifth. It has been a difficult night for Levante, but they must now switch their focus to league matters at the weekend.
Half-chance for Afellay as the Barcelona midfielder collects possession outside the box before attempting to find the bottom corner, but his effort is straight at Jimenez. The pressure continues with Song, but his effort moves wide of the post.
Montoya continues to play as a winger as the right-back combines with Song before driving into the box, but his final pass is cleared by Vyntra. Levante are down the other end with Nagore moments later, but his cross is straight into the arms of Pinto, who has been a spectator this evening.
Just a reminder that the winner of this match - well Barcelona - will face either Real Sociedad or Racing de Santander in the semi-finals. The first semi-final will be contested by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. It promises to be a fascinating conclusion to the Copa del Rey this season.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona and that has been the case since they scored their fifth. In truth, this could have been anything this evening, but the home side have dropped their intensity since Fabregas found the back of the net. Those inside the stadium have started to make their way toward the exits.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 5-1 Levante
So there we have it. Simple for Barcelona as they advance into the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 5-1 win over Levante. Overall, they progress 9-2 on aggregate. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
