Barcelona cruised into the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey on Saturday evening with a commanding 4-0 victory over fourth-tier side Barbastro at the Estadio Municipal de Deportes de Barbastro.
Eric Garcia opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a precise header, setting the tone for a dominant performance by Hansi Flick’s side. Ten minutes later, Robert Lewandowski doubled Barcelona’s advantage, guiding a perfectly delivered free kick from Pablo Torre into the net.
Lewandowski struck again early in the second half, putting the game beyond Barbastro’s reach with his second goal of the night. Moments later, Torre capitalised on a misjudged pass from Barbastro goalkeeper Arnau Fabrega, intercepting the ball and calmly finishing to complete the rout.
Barcelona, who have lifted the Copa del Rey trophy a record 31 times, now advance to the final 16 of the competition. With this emphatic performance, they reaffirmed their status as one of the favourites to win the 2024-25 tournament.
Head coach Hansi Flick made several changes to his usual lineup, including handing a debut to Wojciech Szczesny. Despite the rotations, Barcelona fielded a strong side, led by Lewandowski in attack, and controlled the game from start to finish.
The Catalan giants dominated possession, holding 80% of the ball in the first half and registering 10 shots during a relentless display. Barbastro, while showing heart and determination, were unable to match Barcelona’s class and precision.
One standout performance came from Pablo Torre, who was involved in three of Barcelona’s four goals. The midfielder provided two assists and scored a goal, showcasing his creativity and composure in a memorable outing.
Barcelona’s progression to the next round was never in doubt, and the result further underlines their strength in depth as they aim for another Copa del Rey triumph. Fans will now eagerly await the next stage as the team continues their quest for silverware this season.
