Ousmane Dembele’s strike, capping an excellent particular person show, helped Barcelona beat Actual Sociedad 1-0 on Wednesday, and attain the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
The French ahead struck within the 52nd minute to energy the file 31-time cup-winners via towards 10-man La Actual, who had Brais Mendez despatched off late within the first half.
Barcelona have loved a robust begin to 2023, successful the Spanish Tremendous Cup and shifting three factors away from Actual Madrid on the high of La Liga, and continued it in a pulsating cup conflict.
Imanol Alguacil’s Actual Sociedad have thrilled within the league, sitting third, however had been lacking veteran playmaker David Silva and Mikel Merino via damage.
Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernandez, on his forty third birthday, guided his workforce to a nervy victory, because of Dembele.
The coach defended Dembele when taking up at Barcelona in November 2021, saying that with exhausting work he may very well be the most effective winger on the earth.
“A very powerful factor is having the mentality that you’ll make the distinction at Barcelona,” Xavi instructed reporters on Wednesday.
“For me, Dembele remains to be the most effective on the earth in his place. I’m blissful for him as a result of he’s a superb man and a superb skilled.
“He has turned issues round and that isn’t simple at Barca.”
The Catalans got here out of the blocks rapidly and Robert Lewandowski had an effort blocked after the electrical Dembele discovered him.
On the different finish Takefusa Kubo crashed a shot towards the crossbar, as the sport ebbed and flowed in entertaining style.
Barcelona followers ceaselessly confirmed their ire in the direction of referee Jesus Gil Manzano within the first half — he was the official who despatched off Lewandowski towards Osasuna in November, leading to a ban which the Pole remains to be serving in La Liga.
Nevertheless it was Actual Sociedad midfielder Mendez who was despatched off at Camp Nou on Wednesday, simply earlier than half-time.
The Spaniard lunged in on Sergio Busquets, catching his compatriot along with his studs above the ankle.
Decisive Dembele
Early within the second half, Barcelona broke the impasse when Jules Kounde slid Dembele in down the correct wing and he drove into the field and lashed the ball previous Alex Remiro on the close to publish.
It was the French ahead’s third objective in six video games and one other signal of his excellent kind underneath Xavi.
“It’s exhausting to cease a participant at such a stage, in kind and having a day like this,” mentioned Alguacil.
“We made issues too simple for him within the first half … I believe we had been afraid. In the event you give half a metre to Dembele, you’re screwed.”
Now that Dembele has discovered a coach who believes in him — and signed a brand new deal final summer time — he has grow to be important at Barcelona.
“(Dembele) had an important recreation, we all know what an important participant he’s,” Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo instructed Movistar.
“He helps us with targets, he’s taking good selections, that’s an important factor, one thing that possibly was tough for him initially.”
Actual Sociedad, regardless of their numerical drawback, battled nicely and will have levelled when Alexander Sorloth fired over from solely a few yards out.
The Norwegian striker had netted 5 targets in his earlier six video games and appeared aghast at his miss.
Gavi struck the bar after extra good work by Dembele as Barcelona tried and did not seal the win with a second objective.
“There are loads of video games that we will put to mattress earlier, we are going to attempt to work on that,” mentioned Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde.
“We’re in superb kind and we simply should kill off these conditions.”
Barcelona survived two late scares after Marc-Andre ter Stegen gave the ball away however then saved from Robert Navarro and produced one other positive cease to disclaim Jon Ander Olasagasti.
Elsewhere Osasuna earned a 2-1 win over Sevilla in extra-time to achieve the semis for the primary time since 2005, once they completed as runners-up to Actual Betis.
On Thursday Actual Madrid host Atletico Madrid and Valencia welcome Athletic Membership within the different quarter-finals.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)