Copa del Rey wrap: Barca ease into quarters

Barcelona defeated Osasuna 2-1 away from home on Thursday to seal a 6-1 aggregate victory and reach the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

After a lacklustre start from the European champions at Estadio Reyno de Navarra, they came from behind to seal a comfortable victory and book a last-eight meeting with holders and fierce rivals Real Madrid.

Hosts Osasuna took a first-half lead through Dejan Lekic, but Pep Guardiola’s men responded with a vastly improved second-half display.

Alexis Sanchez levelled the score moments after the restart, before Sergio Roberto secured the win with a 72nd-minute strike.

Serbia forward Lekic twice went close for Osasuna early in the first half, with his first opportunity blocked by Carles Puyol, and the second fizzing wide of the post.

With four minutes remaining before the break, his efforts were finally rewarded.

Raoul Loe outmuscled Sergio Roberto 25 yards from goal and Lekic took full advantage, picking up the loose ball and lashing home a left-footed strike from the edge of the box.

Javier Calleja and Alvaro Cejudo both missed chances to extend Osasuna’s lead before the break, and they were punished just four minutes into the second half.

Fullback Adriano dropped a shoulder, beating Marc Bertran and creating space for a low, drilled cross.

The ball zipped off the surface, and goalkeeper Asier Riesgo appeared to hesitate as he came to claim the delivery.

Sanchez arrived at the back post, duly nodding in to level the scores.

With that goal making it 5-1 on aggregate, any real urgency was sucked out of the game.

And in the 72nd minute, Sergio Roberto made sure Barcelona would also come out on top in the match.

Lionel Messi spotted the 19-year-old’s darting run into the area and poked an inch-perfect pass through to the youngster.

His first touch narrowed the angle but he still managed to send the ball across goal, beating Riesgo and finding the far corner to make it 2-1.

Barcelona’s victory sets up a tantalising quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, with the first leg to take place on January 17 at the Santiago Bernebeu.

Also on Thursday, Athletic Bilbao defeated Albacete 4-0 at home in their round-of-16 second leg.

Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg away to the third-tier side, a 4-0 aggregate victory sends Athletic through to a quarter-final against Mallorca.