Munir grabs double in comprehensive derby win for Barcelona
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Updated 13/01/2016 at 22:51 GMT
Copa Del Rey round of 16 second leg, Cornella - Espanyol 0 Barcelona 2 (Munir 32', 88')
Barcelona's Munir el Haddadi and Lionel Messi (facing camers) celebrate a goal against Espanyol.
Image credit: Reuters
Munir El Haddadi scored twice as Barcelona eased their way into the quarter-finals of the Copa Del Rey, beating city rivals Espanol 6-1 on aggregate.
Luis Enrique rested a number of key players for the match, with Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Neymar all on the bench, but the Catalans didn't need them - recording a comfortable derby victory.
Lionel Messi kept his place in the team, however, threading through a wonderful pass for Munir to open the scoring after 38 minutes. The young striker added his second of the night late in the match, with Espanyol already resigned to their fate by that stage.
Munir will now hope to kick-on from this performance, with his season somewhat stagnant until this point. The 20-year-old has toiled in front of goal over the past few months, but a derby double will only help his confidence as Barcelona take their place in the last eight of the Copa Del Rey.
KEY EVENTS
12’ BARCELONA'S FIRST CHANCE OF THE MATCH! The corner kick delivery falls to Messi on the edge of the box, but Bardi in the Espanyol goal does well to get behind it to make the save.
21’ MUNIR HEADS WIDE! Messi plays a wonderful, flighted cross into the penalty area, but Munir can't quite climb high enough and the young striker plants his header past the far post.
24’ MESSI GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER! This time the Argentine drives through the centre of the pitch, sending a curling effort towards goal - but Bardi makes sure with a diving stop.
30’ NOT TOO FAR AWAY FOR ESPANYOL! Ciani meets the near post delivery from a corner kick, but he only succeeds in heading his effort past the target. That had Ter Stegen worried.
32’ GOAL! Espanyol 0 Barcelona 1: There's the opening goal, and what a goal it was. Messi's pass through was unbelievable, and Munir did really well to round the keeper and finish into the empty net.
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Barcelona's forward Munir El Haddadi celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 16 second leg football match RCD Espanyol vs FC Barcelona at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella near Barcelona, on January 13, 201
Image credit: AFP
44’ TER STEGEN IS FORCED INTO THE SAVE! Jordan cuts inside and tries to catch out the Barca keeper with a snapshot at the near post, but the German gets down early to stop.
46’ CAICEDO SHOULD HAVE SCORED! The Espanyol striker was clean through on goal, but his chipped finish is pushed over the bar by Ter Stegen - who stood up as long as possible.
52’ GOOD CHANCE FOR CAICEDO! The Espanyol striker was released down the left-hand channel on the counter attack, but from a tight angle he couldn't beat Ter Stegen at his near post.
54’ TER STEGEN WINS ANOTHER DUAL WITH CAICEDO! The striker was played through on goal, but the Barca goalkeeper came off his line quickly to make the challenge with his leg.
76’ THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM! Alvaro has gone down in the Barcelona penalty area after what looked to be a stamp on the back of the leg from Mascherano. Was it intentional though?
89’ GOAL! Espanyol 0 Barcelona 2: And that will be that! Turan and Vidal combine to set up Munir for the simple finish at the back post. There was a question of offside against it though!
KEY STATS
Lionel Messi has been involved in 18 goals in his last 11 starts for Barcelona.
Barcelona have kept clean sheets in their last five away derbies against Espanyol.
With four, Munir El Haddadi has scored more goals than any other Barcelona player in the Copa Del Rey this season.
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Barcelona's forward Munir El Haddadi scores during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 16 second leg football match RCD Espanyol vs FC Barcelona at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella near Barcelona, on January 13, 201
Image credit: Eurosport
TALKING POINT - Could Dani Alves and Aleix Vidal play in the same team?
When Aleix Vidal made the move from Sevilla to the Camp Nou, it was assumed that Luis Enrique saw him as a deputy to first-team right-back Dani Alves. But against Espanyol Vidal was used as a right winger, on the same flank as the Brazilian. It was a ploy that didn’t really work, with the newbie somewhat uncomfortable with his exact role on the pitch. But is it something that Enrique will persevere with?
MAN OF THE MATCH - Sergi Roberto
With every performance, Sergi Roberto underlines the progression he has made this season. It’s not so long since he appeared to be on his way out of the Camp Nou, but now he is vying for a starting spot with Sergio Busquets. He was the man pulling the strings in the centre of midfield, supplying the likes of Messi and Munir with possession.
PLAYER RATINGS
Espanyol - Bardi 6, Correa 5, Ciani 7, Alvaro 7, Duarte 5, Jordan 6, Abraham 5, Sevilla 6, Burgui 6, Asensio 6, Caicedo 7.
Barcelona - Ter Stegen 6, Alves 6, Mascherano 6, Vermaelen 6, Mathieu 5, Roberto 8, Rakitic 6, Turan 6, Vidal 6, Messi 7, Munir 8.
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