Barcelona Cruises Past Barbastro with a 4-0 Victory in Copa del Rey Round of 32*

1.  **Barcelona Cruises Past Barbastro with a 4-0 Victory in Copa del Rey Round of 32*

**Venue:** Municipal Sports Field, Barbastro, Spain  

**Competition:** Copa del Rey, Round of 32  

In a commanding performance, FC Barcelona defeated the modest UD Barbastro with a decisive 4-0 win, advancing to the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, the Catalan giants displayed their dominance, delivering an exceptional match.  

### **Match Summary**  

The match began with Barcelona asserting their control, dominating possession and creating opportunities from the start. Eric García opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a powerful header following an assist from Ronald Araújo, becoming Barcelona's first goal scorer of the year.  

Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead in the 31st minute, demonstrating his class with a clinical finish. He extended Barcelona’s advantage just a minute into the second half with a second goal, assisted by Pablo Torre. Torre capped off his stellar performance with a goal in the 56th minute, making it 4-0 for Barcelona.  

Barbastro fought valiantly, creating a few chances, but Barcelona’s defense, led by Araújo and debutant Wojciech Szczesny, stood firm.  

### **Highlights**  

1. **Eric García’s Opener:**  

   The defender scored a well-placed header to give Barcelona the lead in the 20th minute.  

2. **Lewandowski’s Milestone:**  

   Celebrating his 1,000th professional match, Lewandowski added two goals to his tally, bringing his season total to 24.  

3. **Pablo Torre’s Brilliance:**  

   Torre not only assisted two goals but also scored Barcelona’s fourth, showcasing his creative prowess.  

4. **Toni Fernández’s Debut:**  

   At just 16 years, 5 months, and 17 days, Fernández made his senior debut, reflecting the importance of La Masia in nurturing young talent.  

5. **Jaime Ara’s Injury:**  

   Barbastro’s Jaime Ara suffered a head collision with Iñigo Martínez in the 51st minute and had to be stretchered off.  

6. **Special Moment:**  

   At the final whistle, Barbastro player Israel García proposed to his partner on the field, adding a heartwarming note to the evening.  

### **Match Statistics**  

| **Statistic** | **Barbastro** | **Barcelona** |  

|----------------------|---------------|---------------|  

| Possession (%) | 25.2 | 74.8 |  

| Shots | 0 | 14 |  

| Fouls Committed | 16 | 7 |  

| Offsides | 3 | 3 |  

| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |  

### **Notable Performances**  

- **Wojciech Szczesny:** The Polish goalkeeper, making his debut 96 days after joining the club, had a quiet yet composed outing, with only one save required.  

- **Lewandowski:** The Polish striker continued his excellent form, demonstrating why he remains one of the best forwards in the game.  

- **Pablo Torre:** His vision and technical skill proved pivotal, contributing significantly to Barcelona’s attacking success.  

### **Manager’s Take**  

Hansi Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, *“It was important to start the year with focus and determination. The players delivered an excellent performance, and our young talents, like Toni Fernández, showed great promise.”*  

### **Looking Ahead**  

Barcelona now advances to the Round of 16 and prepares for the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Barbastro exits the competition with their heads held high, having had the opportunity to compete against one of Europe’s elite teams.