BARCELONA, Jan 26 — Ousmane Dembele’s strike, capping a amazing individual display, helped Barcelona beat Genuine Sociedad 1- on Wednesday, and get to the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
The French ahead struck in the 52nd moment to electrical power the document 31-time cup-winners through versus 10-gentleman La True, who experienced Brais Mendez despatched off late in the first fifty percent.
Barcelona have appreciated a powerful start off to 2023, successful the Spanish Super Cup and moving three points distinct of Real Madrid at the best of La Liga, and continued it in a pulsating cup clash.
Imanol Alguacil’s Actual Sociedad have thrilled in the league, sitting down 3rd, but were lacking veteran playmaker David Silva and Mikel Merino through injury.
“(Dembele) had a terrific game, we know what a fantastic player he is,” Barcelona defender Araujo explained to Movistar.
“He can help us with aims, he’s using excellent selections, which is the most essential issue, something that perhaps was challenging for him at the beginning.”
Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernandez, on his 43rd birthday, guided his crew to a nervy victory.
The Catalans came out of the blocks rapidly and Robert Lewandowski experienced an hard work blocked immediately after the electric powered Dembele observed him.
Gavi fired wide and Frenkie de Jong deflected in a further strike but from an offside posture and the purpose was disallowed.
At the other conclude Takefusa Kubo crashed a shot from the crossbar, as the video game ebbed and flowed in entertaining trend.
Barcelona supporters often showed their ire in the direction of referee Jesus Gil Manzano in the initially 50 percent — he was the official who sent off Lewandowski against Osasuna in November, resulting in a ban which the Pole is however serving in La Liga.
Nonetheless it was Authentic Sociedad midfielder Mendez who was sent off at Camp Nou on Wednesday, just right before fifty percent time.
The Spaniard lunged in on Sergio Busquets, catching his compatriot with his studs over the ankle.
Decisive Dembele
Early in the second fifty percent Barcelona broke the deadlock when Jules Kounde slid Dembele in down the correct wing and he drove into the box and lashed the ball previous Alex Remiro at the in close proximity to publish.
It was the French forward’s third aim in six video games and yet another sign of his fantastic form underneath Xavi.
Dembele has uncovered a mentor who thinks in him and, following signing a new offer previous summer time, has turn into important at Barcelona.
Actual Sociedad, regardless of their numerical downside, battled very well and should have levelled when Sorloth fired more than from only a couple of yards out.
The Norwegian striker had netted 5 targets in his earlier six games and looked aghast at his miss.
Gavi struck the bar immediately after far more great operate by Dembele as Barcelona tried using and unsuccessful to put the sport to mattress.
“There are a large amount of online games that we can put to bed earlier, we will consider to function on that,” explained Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde.
“We are in very fantastic sort and we just have to eliminate off these circumstances.”
Barcelona survived two late scares just after Ter Stegen gave the ball absent but then saved from Robert Navarro and generated an additional fantastic halt to deny Jon Ander Olasagasti.
Osasuna were being going through Sevilla later Wednesday while on Thursday Real Madrid host Atletico Madrid and Valencia welcome Athletic Club in the other quarter-finals. — AFP