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Copa del Rey | Semi-Finals
Feb 12, 2014 at 9pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-1

Griezmann (87')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Messi (26')

Live Commentary: Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the Copa del Rey semi-final second-leg encounter between Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
2

Barcelona have reached the Copa del Rey final following a 3-1 aggregate win against Real Sociedad.

The Blaugrana, who had a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, broke the deadlock when Lionel Messi beat Zubikarai in the first half.

Sociedad were poor, but managed to secure a draw thanks to Antoine Griezmann's late goal. However, it is Barca who will play Real Madrid in the final.

Read how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening everyone and welcome to our live text coverage of Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg clash against Real Sociedad.

Despite Barca holding a 2-0 advantage, Gerardo Martino will be taking nothing for granted. Why? Well, the Blaugrana have not won at Real Sociedad since May 2007.

However, the visitors will be full of confidence after Sunday's 4-1 win at Sevilla, which took to the top of the league.

We'll talk more about the build up in a moment, but first here comes the team news.

REAL SOCIEDAD: Zubikarai; Mikel, Griezmann, Seferovic, Xabi Prieto, Vela, Ansotegi, Zurutuza, Jose Angel, Gaztanaga, Zaldua

BARCELONA: Pinto, Pique, Fabregas, Xavi, Pedro, Iniesta, Messi, Mascherano, Sergio, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves

So, Inigo Martinez is suspended for the hosts after his red card in the first-leg, and Dani Estrada and Esteban Granero are stilling missing with injury.

Barcelona, meanwhile, field a very strong team. Dani Alves and Jordi Alba start, alongside the likes of Pedro, Iniesta and Messi. Sergio Busquets returns, but former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is on the bench.

As I mentioned a moment ago, Barcelona have a poor record at Anoeta, and Gerardo Martino has told his players that mistakes will not be tolerated. "Each time there is less margin for error. We are at a crucial stage of the season and it's clear that each time there will be fewer chances to make changes in the team, although we will try to give opportunities to players that are in good condition," he told the club's official site.

As for Sociedad, they are confident of overturning the first-leg deficit, despite the huge task in front of them. "We know we face a huge task against Barca," defender Jon Ansotegi told reporters. "But for many of us this could be our only opportunity to play in a final. It's clear that we need to go all out and we are mentally prepared."

PREDICTION: Right, I've just downed my coffee, so here's my match prediction. In truth, I can only see one winner tonight, and it's not the home side. However, football is a funny game. Having said that, I'll go for Barca to win 3-1.



That formation/team is very strong indeed. We're just five minutes away from kickoff, which is just enough time for another tea or coffee. But make it quick!

The players are on the pitch, the fans are ready and I'm ready. I hope you are at home!

KICKOFF! The away side get us underway!

As you might expect, Barca have had the majority of possession at the start of this match. However, they are yet to create a chance.

CHANCE! As I say that, Dani Alves is free on the right, but his cross bounces along the box without a teammate making contact. That was a decent chance.

The home fans are urging Sociedad to push forward and put pressure on their opponents, and the home side respond as Carlos Vela chases a long clearance. However, Pinto clears.

Alves has found plenty of joy down the right so far, which could spell danger for the hosts. However, Seferovic is the next Sociedad man to attempt to press the opposition into mistakes, and again Pinto is forced into a rushed clearance.

Barca are moving the ball well in midfield, but the attack breaks down and Sociedad hit it long to Vela. His pace could cause problems for Mascherano and Pique.

Sociedad have started well and Vela curls in a lovely cross, but Mascherano gets to the ball first and clears the danger.

CHANCE! What fabulous defending this is by the home side! Andres Iniesta has time to pick his spot and delivers a cross to the penalty area, where Messi is waiting. However, Sociedad's defence manage to beat the Barca man and clear the ball. Now they have a corner at the other end!

The first ball in is cleared, but it comes to Zurutuza, who drives a shot wide from about 18 yards. Promising for the hosts.

I can't believe what I'm watching! Barca have misplaced a pass! In all seriousness, Sociedad have competed well in the opening 20 minutes, but can they sustain this type of football for another 70?

Barca are trying to go wide in an attempt to penetrate the Sociedad defence, but the home side are putting up a good fight. However, they will have to come out at some stage in this match, and Barca could then exploit the space.

GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 BARCELONA (Messi) (0-3 AGG)

I'm shaking my head because this is poor by the home side. All of their hard work is thrown out of the window with one costly error. Jose Angel is too casual and gives the ball away. Messi attacks the Sociedad defence before pulling the trigger and beating Zubikarai, who got a hand to it.

BOOKING! Carlos Vela is booked for a foul on Jordi Alba, and then he collides with Busquets moments later, but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket.

SAVE! That opening goal has sucked all of the energy out of the hosts, and it is all Barcelona. Pedro should make it 2-0 and game over, but Zubikarai makes a decent stop from close range.

CHANCE! Sociedad obviously heard my criticism! Haha! Vela gets away past Alves, and seems primed to score at the far post! However, Pinto races off his line manages to parry the Mexican's finish, and Alves clears the rebound.

Sociedad must get up the pitch and apply more pressure. They are sitting back, waiting for Barca to attack them. Surely they should throw caution to the wind and get the home fans behind them?

Beautiful football by Barca and Alves flicks the ball in the back of the net, but the flag is up for offside! I'm not sure about that one, it was very tight.

Fabregas twists and turns down the left side and beats his man far too easily, before winning a corner, which is cleared. As I see it, Real Sociedad have two choices: attack and suffer a heavy defeat while giving their fans something to shout about, or sit back, as they are doing now, and go down with a whimper.

HALF TIME: REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 BARCELONA

Well, the first 15 minutes were promising for the home side, but they have really struggled since Messi's goal. Jagoba Arrasate will surely consider making changes at the break.

STATS: These match stats underline Barca's dominance. The visitors have had 76% of possession, and four attempts on goal, compared to Sociedad's three.

Gerardo Martino's side haven't been at their scintillating best, but the away goal has taken virtually all the pressure off them for the second half. However, I doubt that Messi and Co will want to ease off.

Going back to the opening goal, there were five defenders around Messi, but he still managed to make room for his shot. All in all, it was dreadful football by the home side.

KICKOFF! The second half is underway!

Nothing to report in the opening stages of the second half. The away side have the ball, but that's no surprise!

Zubikarai, the Sociedad goalkeeper, is 29, and has made only 29 La Liga appearances. In truth, he looks shaky, and he opts to punch a free kick clear. Not the greatest goalkeeping I've seen...

Iniesta makes a run in the box and falls over under a challenge. There are half-hearted appeals for a penalty, but it would have been soft.

WIDE! Iniesta doesn't score many, but he almost doubles his side's lead with a dipping shot that goes inches wide of the post! Lovely effort by the little playmaker.

HITS THE BAR! Now this is more like it from the home side! Vela turns in the box and hammers a brilliant shot against the bar with Pinto nowhere near the ball. What a fantastic effort.

SAVE! The danger for Sociedad is that spaces will open up at the back as they attack, and Messi runs through on goal, but the Sociedad keeper parries the first effort and collects the rebound.

CHANCE! Credit must go to Sociedad for their response since the break, but they really should be level in this match. Vela clips a fantastic ball over the top for Griezmann, who strides forward with Mascherano behind him. He is through on goal, but a combination of Mascherano and Pinto do enough to put him off a shot.

SUB: Haris Seferovic is replaced by Chory Castro for the hosts.

More possession football in midfield sees Iniesta go free in the box, but he delays his pass and the ball is smothered by Zubikarai. The Barca man should have found a teammate from that position.

BARCELONA SUB: First sub of the match for Barca as Xavi comes off for Song.

CHANCE! Gaps are appearing in the Sociedad defence with increasing regularity as we approach the final 20 minutes of this match, but again Barca fail to make the most of a promising chance. Messi releases Pedro on the left, and the forward's cross is almost turned in by a defender for an own goal. However, from there he should have found a teammate.

Vela misses an attempt at an overhead kick and the referee penalises the forward for a high boot. That sums up his and Sociedad's night so far.

SAVE! Some of Barcelona's football is truly mesmerising, but their finishing has been very average this evening. Dani Alves runs down the right and exchanges passes with Messi. The right back is through on goal, but Zubikarai is off his line to keep out his shot.

BARCELONA SUB: The visitors made their second change before that last chance, as Alexis Sanchez came on for Pedro.

CHANCE! Sanchez is found by Busquets's through ball, but Zubikarai is alert to the danger and gathers the ball.

REAL SOCIEDAD SUB: Canales comes on for Xabi Prieto.

SAVE! Sociedad waste a free kick, but Griezmann then has a decent effort kept out by Pinto. The home side have shown some encouraging signs in the second half, but why didn't they play like this in the first? Hugely frustrating.

GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 1-1 BARCELONA (Griezmann)

What a goal! It's not going to be enough to send Sociedad through to the final, but this is a brilliant goal by Antoine Griezmann. Canales's pass finds Castro, who lofts a ball into the penalty area, and Griezmann absolutely hammers a first-time shot into the net! Great hit!

BOOKING! Now Fabregas is booked for a foul on Canales

BARCELONA SUB: Final sub for Barca as Bartra comes in for Busquets.

FULL TIME: REAL SOCIEDAD 1-1 BARCELONA (1-3 AGG)

So, Real Sociedad get a draw on the night, but it's Barcelona who advance to the Copa del Rey final where they will face rivals Real Madrid in what is sure to be a fascinating match.

Gerardo Martino's side weren't at their best, but Sociedad's lack of ambition meant they were never under a sustained period of pressure. The home side were disappointing and only came to life in the last couple of minutes after Griezmann's wonderful goal.

That's all we've got time for from the Estadio Anoeta. Thanks for joining me for this live commentary of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Bye!

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Barcelona's Sergio Busquets is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's third goal against Real Sociedad during their La Liga match on September 24, 2013
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