FC Barcelona qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey by winning against the Salamanca Unionistas this Thursday evening (1-3).
These days, the slightest clearing is welcome in the troubled sky of Barcelona. The Catalan club has been going through a deep crisis for several weeks. Lost in La Liga, outclassed at the Camp Nou by its modest neighbor Girona at the end of 2023 (2-4), Barça also lost heavily against its rival Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, the week last, in Saudi Arabia.
Xavi’s team could therefore not draw a line under a second trophy this season. Weakened, the Catalan coach had remodeled his eleven for this match against Salamanca, a team obviously within the Blaugrana’s reach on paper. And Barça ensured the essential by signing a victory which allows it to punch its ticket for the quarter-finals of the competition.
Barça ensures without shining
The Catalans held the ball in large proportions against a little thumbs-up curled up in front of his goal to close the spaces and delay the deadline. And it was even the locals who opened the scoring after half an hour of play through Gomez (1-0, 30th), but Ferran Torres forced the equalizer before the break (1-1, 45th). A decisive goal for Xavi’s squad, who then made the difference thanks to two new goals from Koundé (1-2, 69th) and Baldé (1-3, 72nd). Mission accomplished.
