Dembélé leads Barça to Cup seminals

Dembélé leads Barça to Cup seminals

The Frenchman makes the difference against a Real that, with 10 from 40', did not have his best day

MADRID, 25 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

FC Barcelona sealed their pass to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey this Wednesday by beating Real Sociedad (1-0) at the Spotify Camp Nou, a duel with dominance and mostly local chances, and with the goal of Ousmane Dembélé to advance on a Basque team that did not have its best day and, moreover, played in inferiority from 40'.

Xavi Hernández's team extended their cup adventure, another title option after winning the Spanish Super Cup two weeks ago, with a Dembélé who gave the rival defense a lot of work and scored the winning goal in the 52nd minute. He was faithful to his recent version, in intensity and looking for the rival goal, but he lacked effectiveness, as has also been the case.

The lack of sentence was not taken advantage of by a Real that believed despite the red to Brais Méndez, for a tackle on Busquets, after warning from the VAR. Imanol Bailiff's team found themselves overwhelmed by Barca pressure, very far from the rival goal, also to scare Ter Stegen. However, Take Kubo crashed against the crossbar and, in the second half, led Basque minutes on occasion for Sorloth.

San Sebastian's streak of nine consecutive victories ended at the Camp Nou in large part by Dembélé. The Frenchman complied in his continuous one on one, also coming out with speed when Real wanted to go up. Meanwhile, Lewandowski was well watched, with a certain anger due to his lack of prominence and perhaps with the boil of the reunion with Gil Manzano, the referee of his sanction in the League.

The local attack went more through the arrivals of Gavi and Pedri from the second line, from which Xavi is taking advantage, in the same way that Balde went up a lot on the left wing. With the addition of Frenkie de Jong, the culé superiority in the center of the field was total and, thus, the local occasions followed one another. The 'txuri-urdin' team created little danger, like Kubo's crossbar after half an hour, which helped the visitors to leave the cave.

With the forces equalized came the expulsion of Brais, to which the Real responded with courage so as not to lock himself up again. Barça continued with their sights off, with some Koundé excuse for not being his best facet. The center-back had paths between one time and another, but Dembélé then brought calm, in a drive that aimed for a pass for Lewandowski and surprised Remiro with the shot.

The 1-0 again aroused the pride of Real, with Barrenetxea and Kubo hanging around the rival area. The Japanese put a ball to Sorloth's goal that surprised the Norwegian striker himself and Xavi's anger in the band reminded the locals of the need to have the ball and sentence. Barça half complied, because they did not suffer excessively and maintained their dominance, but peace of mind did not come.

Dembélé took the ovation from the Camp Nou and the Barça fiefdom, where they have not won the Real for 32 years, held their breath due to a mistake by Ter Stegen, which he amended by saving the one-on-one with Robert Navarro. Olasagasti forced another from the German and those of Alguacil, despite the casualties, said goodbye with their heads held high, although Barça was the one who got into the draw for the semifinals on Monday.

--RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 1 - REAL SOCIEDAD, 0. (0-0, at halftime).

FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen (Marcos Alonso, 91 mins), Balde (Raphinha, 78 mins); Busquets, Gavi, De Jong; Dembele (Ansu Fati, 85th minute), Lewandowski and Pedri (Kessie, 77th minute).

REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro; Aritz, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Rico (Aihen Muñoz, descanso); Brais Méndez, Zubimendi, Marín (Olasagasti, min. 78), Oyarzabal (Barrenetxea, rest); Kubo (Robert Navarro, min.78) and Sorloth (Carlos Fernández, min.87).

1 - 0, min.52, Dembélé.

--REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremadura). He admonished Busquets (min.56) and Pedri (min.59) for Barça. And Zubimendi (min.66) at Real. He sent off Brais Méndez (min.40) for a direct red card.

--STADIUM: Camp Nou, 59,610 spectators.