Barcelona secure first-leg lead in Copa del Rey semi-final

Barcelona have beaten Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou.

Sociedad started well and could have taken the lead with just four minutes played. Carlos Vela chased a long ball and played in Antoine Griezmann, but the Frenchman's effort was saved by Pinto.

Barcelona's first real chance arrived after 13 minutes as Dani Alves delivered a low cross to the far post, where Cesc Fabregas made contact, but his effort was just wide.

Lionel Messi had two golden chances to score as he met a cross from Jordi Alba, but Zubikarai denied the Argentine on both occasions from close range.

Messi then curled an effort towards the top corner, but it rattled against the crossbar before Sociedad cleared the danger.

Vela forced Pinto into another save, but the hosts took the lead when Sergio Busquets slotted in from close range. Inigo Martinez was then sent off for something he said to the referee.

Pedro met a cross from Alves with an hour played, but the Spaniard's header was wide of the post.

Moments later the home side made it 2-0 in comical fashion. Alexis Sanchez hit the post and a Sociedad defender hammered the ball against the back of his own goalkeeper and into the net.

Sanchez then found Pedro inside the box, but again he missed the target. Alves also fired the ball over the bar after controlling Fabregas's pass.

Zubikarai pushed away Messi's close-range volley, before Pedro missed another chance in stoppage time.