Barcelona beats 10-man Sociedad to reach Copa semifinals
MADRID — The days of Barcelona followers jeering Ousmane Dembele are lengthy gone.
There had been solely cheers from the gang on the Camp Nou after the France ahead led the hosts to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Dembele scored the successful aim early within the second half as Barcelona defeated 10-man Real Sociedad 1-0 to return to the final 4 after a one-year absence.
The outcome ended a nine-game successful streak for Sociedad, which performed a person down from the fortieth minute after Brais Mendez was despatched off for a harmful deal with on Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets.
It was Sociedad’s twenty seventh straight loss to Barcelona as a customer. It hasn’t received on the Catalan membership in 31 matches, relationship to 1991.
The Basque Country aspect arrived as one of many hottest groups in Spain with 21 wins in 28 matches in all competitions this season, with 13 of these wins coming in away video games. It had misplaced solely 4 instances total and is third within the Spanish league, six factors behind chief Barcelona.
Barcelona was in management for a lot of the match, although, and opened the scoring within the 52nd via Dembele’s angled shot from inside the realm after a cross into house by defender Jules Kounde.
“What a great game by Ousmane,” Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo stated. “We know of his quality. He has been helping us a lot, and now with goals as well. He has been making the difference, making all the right decisions, which before maybe it was something that he struggled with.”
Barcelona followers had been upset with Dembele after he refused to just accept the membership’s resolution to mortgage him to a different membership final summer season. He has been enjoying nicely and been essential for the crew not too long ago, although, and once more created a number of alternatives Wednesday earlier than scoring his third aim in six matches.
Some followers had been on their ft to offer him an ovation when Dembele was changed by Ansu Fati within the 84th.
Sociedad had a few good probabilities close to the tip however couldn’t capitalize on them, with Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen arising with massive saves.
“We competed well while 11 against 11 and after going down a man as well,” Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo stated. “We are proud of how we played even though we were eliminated.”
Barcelona was eradicated within the spherical of 16 final season and received the Copa in 2021 for its final title earlier than the departure of Lionel Messi. The Catalan membership has received 4 matches in a row, together with the Spanish Super Cup closing in opposition to Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona coach Xavi had Robert Lewandowski again after the Poland striker couldn’t play in opposition to Getafe within the Spanish league due to a suspension.
Sociedad was with out veteran playmaker David Silva due to a muscle damage.
Barcelona eradicated third-division membership Ceuta within the spherical of 16, whereas Sociedad bought previous Mallorca.
Struggling Sevilla visits Osasuna within the different quarterfinal on Wednesday. Real Madrid hosts metropolis rival Atletico Madrid on Thursday, and Athletic Bilbao visits Valencia.
The draw for the semifinals can be on Monday.
