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Copa del Rey, semi-finals, second leg

This year’s cup final will be between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao after both won through their respective semi-finals. Barcelona came into their tie at Villarreal 3-1 up from the first leg, and within three minutes Neymar put them further ahead from Messi’s cross. Jonathan Dos Santos equalized shortly before the break though, and they were the better team until Pina was sent off for a reckless tackle on Neymar midway through the second half. A few minutes later Luis Suárez ran through to make it two, and Neymar wrapped up a 1-3 victory with a header from Xavi’s cross with two minutes to go. Athletic Bilbao will be Barça’s opponents for the third time in seven years after they beat Espanyol 0-2 later in the evening. After the 1-1 draw in Bilbao, the locals were hoping for an all-Catalan final. However Aduríz opened the scoring for the visitors with just under a quarter of an hour gone, firing a shot on the turn past Pau López, and Etxeita headed in an Iraola corner shortly before the break to make it two. That left Espanyol needing three goals, which they never looked like getting. The final takes place at the end of season at a venue yet to be decided, and with Luis Enrique’s side odds-on for one of the Champions League spots, Athletic are all but mathematically sure of a place in the Europa League next season. (04.03.15)

Villarreal 1 - Barcelona 3

Barcelona came into their tie at Villarreal 3-1 up from the first leg, and within three minutes Neymar put them further ahead from Messi’s cross. The locals were the better team after that though, Vietto and Cheryshev testing Ter Stegen and Uche shooting into the side netting, and with five minutes to go to the break Jonathan Dos Santos ghosted in behind the defence to equalize. Vietto and Jonathan went close after the restart, but Asenjo had to save from Messi, and soon afterwards Tomás Pina (who had already taken Busquets out of the match) was sent off for a reckless tackle on Neymar. A few minutes later Luis Suárez ran through to round the keeper and make it two, and Neymar made sure of Barça’s place in the final once again with a header from Xavi’s cross with two minutes to go. Barça’s opponents will be Athletic Bilbao after they won through against Espanyol later in the evening, the match taking place at the end of season at a venue yet to be decided.

Espanyol 0 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Athletic Bilbao will play Barcelona in the cup final for the third time in seven years after they beat Espanyol 0-2 in their Power 8 stadium. After the 1-1 draw in Bilbao, the locals were hoping for an all-Catalan final. However Aduríz opened the scoring for the visitors after Héctor Moreno could only deflect a De Marcos cross into his path with just under a quarter of an hour gone, firing a shot on the turn past Pau López, and Etxeita headed in an Iraola corner shortly before the break to make it two. Before that Stuani had brought a good save out of Herrerín, and the striker volleyed a shot over the top on the stroke of half time. But although substitute Caicedo saw the keeper turn his shot onto the post, the Catalans never looked like getting the three goals they needed, and Williams could have done more damage had he not shot wide with the goal at his mercy later on. Another final for Athletic though, and with Barça odds-on for one of the Champions League spots, Valverde’s side are all but mathematically sure of a place in the Europa League next season.