Barcelona hit seven to close on the Copa del Rey final

Luis Suarez double

Barcelona made a flying start at Camp Nou with Luis Suarez scoring twice inside the opening 12 minutes. First it was Neymar who slipped the ball through for the Uruguayan and he fired low into the far corner giving Matthew Ryan no chance. Minutes later, Aleix Vidal broke down the right of the area and pulled back towards the penalty spot where Luis Suarez stroked home the second.

Great team goal

The Camp Nou was treated to a delight for the third as Andres Iniesta played a low ball into the area. Neymar flicked it on with his foot, Luis Suarez dummied away from the ball, leaving Lionel Messi unmarked to finish with ease past Ryan on the 30-minute mark.

Barca pressuring

Barca’s pressuring in the Valencia half left Gary Neville’s side with little time on the ball and the visitors constantly turned over possession. Dani Parejo volleyed well over at a corner near halftime and that was the closest Valencia came to Barca’s goal in first half. Luis Suarez galloped away on another counter-attack soon after and crossed low into the middle for Messi but the Argentine’s shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Red card

Messi was soon scampering through on goal again and this time he was brought down in the area by Valencia defender Mustafi. The visitors’ captain was sent off and Neymar took responsibility for the spotkick, but the Brazilian struck his effort against the post. However, there was to be no relief for 10-man Valencia after the break as Barca continued to press forward.

 

Hat-tricks

Arda Turan’s pass was backheeled into the path of Messi by Luis Suarez, and the Barca number 10 beat two defenders to finish low into the corner. Valencia’s new loan signing Denis Cheryshev came on and set up Rodrigo to score, though the goal was ruled out for offside, and down the other end Messi finished off a counter-attack to complete his hat-trick. 

Luis Suarez headed in at the back post to also complete his hat-trick with six minutes left, and then hammered in his fourth off the near post from an Arda Turan pass to complete the scoring.