Valencia 0-5 FC Barcelona: Exhibition, 'manita' and into the Copa semifinals

The FC Barcelona took another step towards one of their main objectives this season, and they did it in style. The blaugrana team visited Mestalla to face Valencia in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey 2024/25 and, just as they did a couple of weeks ago in LaLiga, they overwhelmingly dominated one of their favorite victims and secured their place in the semifinals of the competition.

The team led by Hansi Flick delivered a true exhibition of good football at the home of the 'ches', reaffirming their historical dominance over the locals and handing them a real beating, led by an extraordinary Ferran Torres, which allows them to once again join the top 4 teams of the tournament, alongside Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and Real Sociedad in this stage.

The 'déjà vu' of Barça at Mestalla

The match was over within three minutes. The Catalans took to the field at Mestalla with 'blood in their eyes', and at the 3rd minute, Balde sent a spectacular assist from midfield to find Ferran Torres, who, after getting behind the defense, crossed his shot to open the scoring.

The Valencia tried to respond, but at the 17th minute, a shot from Lamine Yamal that hit the post was 'caught' by the Shark to increase the culés' lead. After this goal, the match completely broke apart, and just over five minutes later, Fermín López 'put the defense to sleep' with his run, and after controlling a brutal assist from Pedri, he dribbled past Dimitrievski and put distance between the two teams.

With Carlos Corberán's side completely overwhelmed and subjected to the uncontrollable offensive power of Barça, Ferran completed his historic first half by celebrating his second 'hat-trick' as a blaugrana half an hour into the match, sending a great cross shot from the edge of the area into the back of the net.

Both teams then went to the locker rooms with the match already decided, and the local fans emptied the stands, frustrated by the lack of response from a 'ches' side that barely put up any resistance to the culé 'storm'.

Ferran Torres was 'a prophet in his land'

Without a doubt, the main protagonist of the first 45 minutes, and of the match, was Ferran Torres. The Shark visited what was his home for almost 15 years and made the inexorable 'law of the ex' count. The forward replaced Robert Lewandowski in the center of the attack and led the recital of Hansi Flick's team against his former club, scoring three goals in 30 minutes to seal the match and send the Catalans to the semifinals.

His 'hat-trick' against Valencia was the second as a Barça player and the third of his career. Previously, he did the same against Betis in the 2023/24 season and against Newcastle in the 2020/21 season, when he was part of Manchester City.

The player also celebrated two of his three goals against the 'ches' with a couple of special dedications. The first of them, with a heartfelt message to the Valencian community that read "Don't forget Valencia", while after scoring his third goal of the night, he ran to hug Dani Olmo, who was returning to the first team after a couple of weeks on the sidelines due to an injury to his right leg.

Lamine sealed the deal for Barça in Valencia

Upon returning from the locker rooms, both teams maintained the tone of the first half. The Barça continued to control the match, and although the locals tried to get back into the game with a goal from Sadiq, which was correctly disallowed for offside, Szczesny continued to have a quiet night and the culés knew they were victorious and qualified for the next round.

Lamine Yamal took care of putting the final nail in the coffin in the 59th minute with 'help' from the opposing defense, which deflected his shot and left Dimitrievski with little he could do to prevent his goal from falling for the fifth time that night. The blaugranas completed the remaining half hour practically without breaking a sweat and achieved another rout against the Valencians to secure their place among the top 4 teams of the Copa.

Barça awaits an opponent in the semifinals

Thus, Flick's team takes another step towards their thirty-second title of Copa del Rey. The Catalans join Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and Real Sociedad in the next round of the competition, and next Wednesday, February 12, at 1:00 PM, they will find out their opponent in the draw that will take place, as usual, at the headquarters of the Federation in Las Rozas.

Technical sheet of the match:    

• Valencia, 0: Dimitrievski; Aarons, Mosquera, Yarek, Diakhaby (Tárrega, min. 64), Jesús Vázquez; Pérez (Diego López, min. 64), Pepelu, Guillamón (Barrenechea, min. 64), Canós (Jaime, min. 71); Sadiq (Mir, min. 71).
• FC Barcelona, 5: Szczesny (P); Koundé (Fort, min. 79), Pau Cubarsí (Iñigo Martínez, min. 46), Eric García, Balde (Gerard Martín, min. 46); Frenkie De Jong, Pedri (Dani Olmo, min. 64), Fermín López; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (Marc Casadó, min. 64), Ferran Torres
• Goals: 0-1 Ferran Torres (min. 3); 0-2 Ferran Torres (min. 17); 0-3 Fermín López (min. 23); 0-4 Ferran Torres (min. 30); 0-5 Lamine Yamal (min. 59).
• Referee: Ortiz Arias. Cautioned the Valencians Pérez and Sadiq.