Barcelona ease through to Spanish Cup quarter-finals

An under-strength Barcelona side was still too good for Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as they inflicted a fourth successive defeat on their opponents with a 2-1 victory (5-2 on aggregate) and a place in the Spanish Cup quarter-finals.

Barcelona – who were without six first choice players such as Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi as Josep Guardiola opted to either rest them or put them on the bench – scored through Bojan Krkic and Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Atletico had been briefly given some hope of overturning their 3-1 deficit from the first leg when Frenchman and former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle gave them the lead in the 24th minute.

Holders Valencia also progressed, but they were taken to extra-time by Racing Santander. However extra-time goals by Spanish duo Vicente – his second of the match – and Joaquin earned them their place in the last eight.

The final match of the round is on Thursday when Athletic Bilbao host Osasuna with the tie finely balanced at 1-1).