Neymar nets double as Barcelona reach final
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ByEurosport
Updated 04/03/2015 at 23:19 GMT
Copa Del Rey, El Madrigal - Villarreal 1 (Dos Santos 39') Barcelona 3 (Neymar 2', 87', Suarez 73')
Barcelona's Neymar (front) celebrates near teammate Luis Suarez after he scored a goal against Villarreal during their Spanish King's Cup semi-final second leg soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal March 4, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
Neymar and Luis Suarez goals either side of half time have sent Barcelona to the Copa del Rey final after a comfortable 3-1 win against Villarreal at El Madrigal.
The Brazilian netted in the 3rd minute to put Barca three goals ahead of Villarreal on aggregate having come into the second leg with a 3-1 lead.
The hosts equalised just before half time after former Nou Camp midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos netted on the half volley.
Despite rallying in the second half Jose Pina got himself sent off for a horror tackle on Neymar and minutes later Suarez rounded Sergio Asenjo to kill the tie with 20 minutes remaining.
Neymar headed a Xavi cross home in the final minutes to put the tie truly to bed despite a good attacking performance from Villarreal.
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Barcelona's Lionel Messi (C) kicks the ball between Villarreal's Manu Trigueros (L) and Mateo Musacchio during their Spanish King's Cup semi-final second leg soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, March 4, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
KEY MOMENTS
3’ – GOAL! – Suarez switches it beautifully to Messi on the right. He cuts inside and delivers a lovely cross to Neymar from a narrow angle and the Brazilian is on hand to beat the offside trap and finish past the onrushing Asenjo.
7’ – CHANCE! – The ball bobbles to the near post from a corner and Cheryshev is on hand to pick it up but he slashes his shot high and wide from close range as Ter Stegen rushes out to close down.
17’ – CHANCE! – Pina plays a reverse ball to Uche on the right side of the penalty area. He rushes onto it and gets his shot away from just inside the area but it hits the side-netting.
20’ – CHANCE! – Pina again with a through ball to Vietto in a similar position to Uche a few minutes before but this time Ter Stegen is forced into a save at the near post.
26’ – CHANCE! – Messi again with a delightful floated ball into the box. Iniesta rushes onto it and brings it down in the six-yard area but Musacchio gets back brilliantly to toe it away.
39’ – GOAL! – Pina plays a ball out left to Costa who takes one touch and whips in a cross. It evades everybody but Dos Santos is rushing in at the far post to smash the ball home on the half volley.
55’ – CHANCE! – Messi spins away from two defenders on the right. He evades a trip and cuts inside on his left foot and tries to bend one from the edge of the area but just puts it wide.
65’ – RED CARD! – Pina gets sent off for a horrid, two-footed lunge from behind on Neymar. Easy decision for the referee.
73’ – GOAL! – Montoya plays a beautiful through ball from the right back position to Suarez spinning in behind. He muscles out Victor Ruiz and takes on Asenjo before slotting into an empty net.
88’ – GOAL! – Neymar with his second as Xavi lofts a pin-point cross between the two central defenders for the Brazilian to cushion a header into the back of the net.
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Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates past team mate Neymar after he scored a goal against Villarreal during their Spanish King's Cup semi-final second leg soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, March 4, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
Barcelona have reached their 37th Copa del Rey final – a Spanish record – and will meet either Espanyol or Athletic Bilbao
Barca have two defeats in last 27 games in all competitions
Villarreal have yet to reach a Copa del Rey final in their history
Neymar has scored 26 goals this season, six of them coming in the Copa del Rey
Villarreal had won nine in a row at El Madrigal in all competitions prior to this game and have now lost their third game at home all season – two of these against Barcelona
TALKING POINT
Are Barcelona’s forwards peaking at just the right time in the season? In short, yes. Messi didn’t get on the scoresheet but was a menace all night. Suarez looks meaner and leaner than he has done all year. And Neymar netted twice and tormented the Villarreal defenders all night with his movement. Still fighting for the treble, Barca boss Luis Enrique will be hopeful his strikers will fire them to silverware this season.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Neymar – The Brazilian started the game strongly with a brilliantly timed run and finish and ended it with another beautifully timed dart into the box and header into the back of the net. He was a menace all night and but for a bit of selfishness, could have laid on two more goals for his team too. An all-round top performance from the attacker.
PLAYER RATINGS
Villarreal – Asenjo 7, Mario 7, Musacchio 7, Victor Ruiz 6, Costa 7, Dos Santos 8, Pina 4, Trigueros 6, Cheryshev 6, Uche 5, Vietto 6. Subs – Dos Santos 5, Gomez 5, Campbell 6.
Barcelona – Ter Stegen 8, Montoya 7, Pique 7, Mascherano 8, Alba 7, Busquets 7, Iniesta 7, Rafinha 7, Suarez 9, Neymar 9, Messi 9. Subs – Mathieu 7, Xavi 7.
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