FC Barcelona defeated Sevilla in the semi-final of this season’s Copa del Rey by an aggregate score of 3-2 to qualify for the final of the Spanish domestic cup for a 10th time in 13 years. After losing the first leg 2-0 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Barcelona needed a huge performance to qualify for the final.
Barcelona took the lead just 12 minutes in as Ousmane Dembele scored an outrageous goal from outside the box. Sevilla remained compact and did not allow Barcelona any real chances before Jordi Alba crashed a shot against the crossbar in the second half. Sevilla were awarded a penalty after Barcelona defender, Oscar Mingueza fouled Lucas Ocampos inside the box. Ocampos stepped up and his penalty was saved by Barcelona’s German keeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen. Sevilla’s Fernando Reges picked up a second booking in the 92nd minute and was sent off, before an Antoine Griezmann cross was beautifully guided into the net by the head of Gerard Pique to send the game to extra time. Five minutes into extra time, Martin Braithwaite scored to make it 3-0 to Barca.
Barcelona will now face the winners of the other semi-final between Athletic Bilbao and Levante as they look to bounce back from a trophyless last season with the Copa del Rey title.
