LUIS SUAREZ hit four and Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed
Gary Neville’s Valencia in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final
clash.
Neville’s side were torn to shreds by the Catalan giants as the Spanish Cup
holders all but sealed their place in the final with the second leg still to
come.
Barcelona were ahead inside seven minutes when Neymar stole the ball from a
careless Andre Gomes in midfield, raced forward and passed to Suarez who
rifled a shot across goal past Mathew Ryan.
The home side then doubled their lead when Sergio Busquets sent a long ball
down the right, which Aleix Vidal pulled back for Suarez to blast past Ryan.
Valencia couldn’t contain Barcelona with Neymar, Messi and Suarez creating
danger almost at will.
Neville’s side rarely got near goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen as Barcelona
produced one of their best performances of the season with Andres Iniesta
and Messi playing in their ninth Spanish Cup semi-final in 10 seasons.
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Messi scored his first and Barcelona’s third after a neat backheel from Neymar
on the half hour mark. On the stroke of half-time Barcelona were awarded a
penalty when Schkodran Mustafi brought Messi down and was sent off but
Neymar hit the post to leave the score 3-0 at the interval.
Russian Denis Cheryshev, on loan from Real Madrid, came on as a substitute for
Valencia just before Messi scored Barca’s fourth in the 59th minute, taking
a backheel from Suarez and weaving past two defenders.
Valencia had the ball in the net in the 69th minute after Cheryshev laid on
for Rodrigo but it was ruled out for offside and Messi soon completed his
hat-trick.
Suarez scored twice in the last seven minutes, a header from Adriano’s cross
and a shot from Arda Turan’s square ball taking the Uruguayan’s tally to
nine goals in five matches and 35 for the season.