Messi returns to lead Barca into Copa quarters
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E-mail Xinhua, January 28, 2021
FC Barcelona had to come from behind against second division Rayo Vallecano before booking their place in the quarterfinals of Spain's Copa del Rey.
Fran Garcia put Rayo ahead in the 63rd minute from close range, prompting Barca coach Ronald Koeman to make a triple substitution and bring Jordi Alba, Ousmane Dembele and Pedri into the game.
Lionel Messi equalized six minutes later after a combination between Frenkie De Jong and Antoine Griezmann, and De Jong scored the winner with ten minutes to go after Messi combined with Alba to send over the decisive pass.
The first half saw De Jong hit the bar for Barca, while Riqui Puig also saw a shot bounce off the woodwork, but despite fielding a strong side against a rival that made eight changes from their defeat to Mallorca at the weekend, Barca failed to dominate.
Sevilla kicked off Wednesday's games with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Valencia. Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui fielded a very strong side, while Valencia boss Javi Gracia made changes to the side that had lost to Atletico Madrid at the weekend, with the result that Sevilla were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to two goals from Luuk de Jong and an excellent strike from Ivan Rakitic.
Wednesday's final match saw Almeria keep the second division flag alive as they knocked Osasuna out in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes failed to produce a goal.
The three games on Tuesday saw Real Betis beat Real Sociedad after extra-time, while Villarreal won 1-0 in Girona and Levante booked their place in the last eight with a 4-2 victory away to Real Valladolid. Thursday's matches see Navalcarnero at home to Granada, while Alcoyano, who knocked out Real Madrid in the last round, entertain Athletic Bilbao.
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