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 by in opposition to 10-man La Actual, who had Brais Mendez despatched off late within the first half. Barcelona have loved a powerful begin to 2023, profitable the Spanish Tremendous Cup and transferring three factors away from Actual Madrid on the prime of La Liga, and continued it in a pulsating cup conflict.
Imanol Alguacil’s Actual Sociedad have thrilled within the league, sitting third, however have been lacking veteran playmaker David Silva and Mikel Merino by damage.
Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernandez, on his forty third birthday, guided his crew to a nervy victory, due to Dembele.
The coach defended Dembele when taking up at Barcelona in November 2021, saying that with onerous work he could possibly 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 advised reporters on Wednesday.
“For me, Dembele remains to be top-of-the-line on the earth in his place. I’m comfortable for him as a result of he is a very good man and a very good skilled.
“He has turned issues round and that’s not simple at Barca.”
The Catalans got here out of the blocks shortly and Robert Lewandowski had an effort blocked after the electrical Dembele discovered him.
On the different finish Takefusa Kubo crashed a shot in opposition to the crossbar, as the sport ebbed and flowed in entertaining vogue.
Barcelona followers continuously confirmed their ire in direction of referee Jesus Gil Manzano within the first half — he was the official who despatched off Lewandowski in opposition to 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 together 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 put up.
It was the French ahead’s third purpose in six video games and one other signal of his excellent kind underneath Xavi.
“It is onerous to cease a participant at such a degree, in kind and having a day like this,” mentioned Alguacil.
“We made issues too simple for him within the first half … I believe we have been afraid. If you happen to give half a metre to Dembele, you are screwed.”
Now that Dembele has discovered a coach who believes in him — and signed a brand new deal final summer season — he has develop into important at Barcelona.
“(Dembele) had an incredible sport, we all know what an incredible participant he’s,” Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo advised Movistar.
“He helps us with targets, he is taking good selections, that is a very powerful factor, one thing that possibly was tough for him at first.”
Actual Sociedad, regardless of their numerical drawback, battled effectively and may 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 regarded aghast at his miss.
Gavi struck the bar after extra good work by Dembele as Barcelona tried and didn’t seal the win with a second purpose.
“There are quite a lot of video games that we will put to mattress earlier, we’ll 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 tremendous cease to disclaim Jon Ander Olasagasti.
Elsewhere Osasuna earned a 2-1 win over Sevilla in extra-time to succeed in 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.
(This story has not been edited by String Reveals employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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