Barcelona beat Alaves to advance in Copa del Rey
Barcelona beat Alaves to advance in Copa del Rey
Barcelona marched into the Copa Del Rey round of 16 with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves.

Madrid: Two goals by David Villa on Wednesday eased Barcelona into the fifth round of the Copa del Rey with a 3-1 home win against Deportivo Alaves to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Alaves silenced the Camp Nou ahead of celebrations to mark their 113th birthday later this month by taking the lead when Borja Viguera headed Miquel "Miki" Martinez's long-range cross into the net in the 17th minute. Adriano equalised in the 35th after beating a defender and then skillfully striking the ball low, beneath approaching goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.

Cristian Tello was felled in the 56th, earning a free kick that Villa converted for his 300th professional goal with a beautifully struck shot. Four minutes later, he added another from an assist by Tello. Villa's goals steadied the home team and led to some fluid, fast-passing play, culminating in a shot just over the crossbar by Tello in the 68th and another inches wide by Villa a minute later.

Captain Carles Puyol was cheered by the crowd when he was substituted by Cesc Fabregas in the 80th. Sevilla beat Espanyol 3-0 to advance 6-1 on aggregate. On Monday, Espanyol fired Mauricio Pochettino after four years in charge as coach. His replacement, Javier Aguirre, wasn't present to oversee the match.

Espanyol midfielder Javier Lopez was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Papa Babacha Diawara in the area, and Argentine player Diego Perotti converted the penalty in the 26th minute. Replays showed Lopez may not have touched Babacha, however. Sevilla's Croatian midfielder, Ivan Rakitic, buried Jesus Navas' cross in first-half injury time.

With his back to goal, Babach scored Sevilla's third with an athletic, close-range overhead bicycle kick in the 50th minute. In other second legs in the round of 32, Valencia advanced 5-1 on aggregate, Levante went forward 4-2 overall, Atletico Madrid advanced 4-0 after two matches, and Getafe advanced 4-0 on aggregate.

Valencia defender Adil Rami scored from three yards inside his own half in a 3-1 win, launching a powerful shot that caught the goalkeeper off guard in the 15th minute. Nelson Valdez headed just inside the near post in the 57th after the 'keeper missed the ball.

Juan Bernat made it three for Valencia at Mestalla Stadium, striking a left-footed shot from an accurate cross supplied by Ever Banega in the 78th minute. Llagostera pulled one back when Nicolas Rubio scored in the 84th minute.

Levante beat Melilla 4-1, beginning when defender Nikos Karampelas connected with a free kick to score in the 25th minute. Two minutes later, Mellila equalised from a corner when Mustafa "Chota" Abdelsalem Mohand headed into the net off the far post.

Roger Marti rose to head in from a free kick in the 62nd, and Michel Herrera did the same from a free kick in the 76th. Melilla defender Andres Sanchez was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a clumsy tackle in the area. Vicente Iborra converted the penalty in the 86th minute.

Atletico Madrid beat Real Jaen 1-0 from Raul Garcia's powerful right-footed shot that just shaved the inside of the far post in the 16th minute. Getafe drew 0-0 with Ponferradina but advanced on aggregate.

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