SPORT SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2017 21 Barcelona stroll back into Cup semis Barcelona are given space, not just for their AFP Five-star Barca quality, but their physical abil- Enrique's side reach ity, they normally take arcelona eased into advantage." the last-four stage the semi-finals of the Sociedad had a huge chance Copa del Rey for a for the seventh to get back into the tie nine min- seventh consecutive consecutive season utes into the second period season 6-2 on aggre- with a 6-2 aggregate when Jose fired too close to Jas- Bgate as Denis Suarez scored win over Sociedad. per Cillessen with just the Dutch twice in a 5-2 win over Real international to beat from 10 Sociedad on Thursday. meeting between Barca and yards out. Already leading 1-0 from the Atletico saw the Madrid outfit And within seconds any last- first leg, Barca gave Sociedad a win a Champions League quar- ing hope Sociedad had was gone mountain to climb as Denis Sua- ter-final (1-2, 2-0) last April. as Neymar accelerated in behind rez finished off a great team The last time the pair met in the visitors' defence and was move with the only real chance the Copa del Rey, as the Span- cynically hacked down by Inigo of the first-half before Lionel ish Cup is named, Barcelona Martinez with the defender Messi converted from the pen- won (1-0, 3-2) and went on to lucky to escape with just a yel- alty spot. lift the trophy in 2015 which low card. Juanmi and Willian Jose they successfully defended last Messi had handed respon- grabbed a pair of consolation season. sibility from the spot to Neymar goals for the visitors either side Barca boss Luis Enrique took in each of Barca's last two Cup of Luis Suarez's third for Barca no risks with his team selection outings, but stepped up himself before Arda Turan and Denis as all of Messi, Neymar and Luis to register his 29th goal in just Suarez rounded off the rout. Suarez started, whilst Gerard 27 games this season. "After the first goal the space Pique returned at the back after Sociedad were briefly given Manchester United's Marcus Rashford in action with Hull City's Josh Tymon during the Cup opened up. They had a high line, being rested for the 4-0 win at a glimmer of hope when substi- and if you give the three we Eibar on Sunday. tute Juanmi took advantage of semi-final second leg at the Kingston Communications Stadium on Thursday. have up front space, then they One moment of magic lit up a glaring gap in the centre of the kill you," Denis Suarez told BeIN a first-half otherwise devoid of Barca defence to lob Cillessen. Sports Spain. goalmouth action as after reg- Barca immediately The 28-time winners join istering his first Barca goal at the responded, though, as Messi City and Palace weigh Atletico Madrid, Alaves and weekend, Denis Suarez's pur- shrugged off three Sociedad Celta Vigo, who dumped out ple patch continued. challenges to release Luis Sua- Real Madrid on Wednesday, in Samuel Umtiti robbed Xabi rez to slot his 20th goal of the yesterday's semi-final draw. Prieto deep inside the Sociedad season under Geronimo Rulli. Atletico Madrid and Barce- half and from there Neymar, The Basques once again priorities in FA Cup lona were drawn together in the Messi and Luis Suarez combined responded as Jose bulleted Spanish Cup semi-finals yester- to tee up his namesake for a first home a header 17 minutes from day in what promises to be the time finish into the far corner. time. London "We had everything to win clear the competition is not a top latest thrilling clash between the "We found it difficult to play Yet, that once again just AFP the game, but it's the same old priority. sides. out from the back in the first- kicked Barca back up a gear as story: we had trouble creating With a trip to Bournemouth Celta Vigo drew Alaves in half," added Enrique. Turan tapped home Aleix Vidal's anchester City support- chances and the other team, in the league on Tuesday to fol- the other home and away semi- "In the second-half we took cross minutes after replacing ers must once again with less options, get the goals." low, he is likely to rotate his final to be played February 1 and better decisions and we took our Neymar before Messi teed up Mwait to see which ver- City won 2-1 on their last trip starting XI, as he did against his 8. chances. Denis Suarez for his second of sion of Pep Guardiola's team to Selhurst Park in November, former club Bolton in round The most recent cup "When the players we have the night. shows up in today's FA Cup but it took an 83rd-minute goal three. Schlupp is a minor doubt fourth-round game at Premier by Yaya Toure, which completed after cramping up in the latter League rivals Crystal Palace. a personal brace, for the visitors stages of the defeat against City have won by four goals to prevail. Sam Allardyce is yet Everton, while midfielder Jor- or more on five separate occa- to make his mark at Palace, don Mutch is carrying a knock. sions, but have also fallen to two whose 2-1 third-round replay Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda 4-0 defeats -- at Barcelona and win over Bolton Wanderers is (knee), left-back Pape Souare more recently Everton -- and the only game they have won (broken leg) and striker Connor been beaten five times in the since he succeeded Alan Pardew Wickham (knee) are all long- league. as manager in December. term absentees. January has been every bit But they were unfortunate Guardiola named a strong as see-saw, with City winning to lose 1-0 at home to Everton team for City's trip to West Ham 5-0 at West Ham United in the last weekend, Seamus Coleman in the previous round, but with FA Cup, losing 4-0 at Everton netting an 87th-minute winner Wednesday's return to London and then going 2-0 up against despite Palace debutant Jeff Stadium in the league looming, Tottenham Hotspur on their last Schlupp being down injured and he too is likely to shuffle his outing, only to draw 2-2. a hint of offside. pack. It could be an opportunity Faced with the team's wildly Allardyce took his team's for captain Vincent Kompany to oscillating form, underpressure performance as a good omen. make his return to the starting goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has "Everton beat Manchester XI following a two-month lay- told his team-mates: "We must City 4-0 last week and were off that began when he injured be mentally strong. lucky to beat us, so we have to his knee in November's game at "We must keep working take positives out of that," said Palace. hard, keep believing in what the former England manager. John Stones is a candidate we're doing. It's the only Palace reached the FA Cup to partner him in central Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (second left) celebrates with team-mates Neymar (left), recipe. final last season, narrowly los- defence, having paid for another Andre Gomes (second right) and Luis Suarez after scoring a goal during the Spanish Copa "It's not a good feeling look- ing 2-1 to Manchester United, shaky display at his old club del Rey (King's Cup) quarter-final second leg match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona ing at how things developed but with relegation a very real Everton by being demoted to the on Thursday. (against Tottenham). prospect, Allardyce has made it bench for the draw with Spurs. Wade replaces injured Smith as New Devi looks to banish Zealand tour skipper for ODI series tears in pro debut Sydney confirm the interim selector Trevor Hohns said. "He New Delhi AFP diagnosis. impressed again when playing for the AFP "Early indica- National Performance Squad against A teams ustralian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade tions suggest this from Australia, South Africa and India in he caused a storm when she refused to accept a medal at the (pictured) has assumed captaincy will likely take seven Townsville and Mackay during this past Asian Games. Now Laishram Sarita Devi is aiming to be the Aduties for the upcoming New Zealand to 10 days to recover, winter." Scontinent's undisputed champion as India's first professional tour after injury ruled out Steve Smith, with meaning Steve will Smith's setback came less than a month woman boxer. youngster Sam Heazlett called up as his be unable to (partic- before the tough India tour. Devi was slated when she tearfully rejected her bronze medal replacement, Cricket Australia said ipate) in the Qantas "We've got a lot coming up so they think at the 2014 games in Incheon and accused judges of pandering to yesterday. Tour of New it's an opportunity to rest it and be right for locals by declaring South Korea's Park Ji-Na the winner on points Smith's deputy David Warner was Zealand." India," Smith told reporters in Adelaide, in their semi-final. But she also garnered sympathy back in India's already due to be rested for the three one- Wade said he was surprised but "very cricket.com.au reported.