MX23RW : Thursday, July 9 21:35:13| >> :120:25274:25274:
Jan 25, 2018 at 8.30pm UK at Camp Nou
Attendance: 79,774
Barcelona
2-0
Espanyol
Suarez (9'), Messi (25')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Result: Philippe Coutinho makes debut as Barcelona beat Espanyol to reach Copa del Rey semi-finals

Result: Coutinho debuts as Barca beat Espanyol in Copa
Barcelona reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey thanks to a 2-0 win over Espanyol in Thursday night's quarter-final second leg at Camp Nou for a 2-1 aggregate win.

Barcelona have reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey thanks to a 2-0 win over Espanyol in Thursday night's quarter-final second leg at Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana were 1-0 down from the first leg but first-half goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi edged Ernesto Valverde's side into the final four of the competition with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Philippe Coutinho also made his debut for his new club, coming on for Andres Iniesta in the 68th minute, while Messi's 25th-minute strike was Barca's 4,000th goal at their illustrious stadium.

Prior to kickoff, the Barcelona faithful said their goodbyes to midfielder Javier Mascherano, who is leaving the club to join Chinese Super League outfit Hebei China Fortune on Friday.

The hosts began brightly and were off the mark after just nine minutes as Aleix Vidal's incisive pass from just inside the Espanyol box was drilled home at point-blank range by Suarez.

Quique Flores's charges did their best to try to stifle their opponents, who continued to attack but struggled to find as many gaps.

However, Espanyol then fell behind in the tie in the 25th minute thanks to Messi's left-footed strike from the right, which deflected off Naldo en route to the back of the net.

By half time, Barca must have wondered how they were not out of reach given a glut of gilt-edged chances that came their way, but Suarez and Messi failed to add to their earlier strikes.

The second half saw the hosts take their foot off the pedal somewhat but the visitors remained second best and failed to muster up any significant chances.

Coutinho was introduced midway through the second half to an ovation from the Barca fans and the Brazilian nearly claimed an assist on 75 minutes in squaring the ball to Suarez, who fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Despite the Blaugrana's slender lead, which would have been nullified with an Espanyol away goal, the final whistle blew on an ultimately comfortable evening for Valverde and his men.

BARCELONA (4-4-2): Cillessen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Albal; Vidal (Paulinho 63'), Busquets, Rakitic (Gomes 90+3'), Iniesta (Coutinho 68'); Messi, Suarez

ESPANYOL (4-1-4-1): Lopez; Navarro, Naldo, Hermoso, Martin; Fuego; Sanchez (Melendo 86'), Granero (Garcia 65'), Lopez, Darder (Baptistao 46'); Gerard

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Philippe Coutinho's Barcelona shirt pictured on January 6, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid34238362214177
2Barcelona35237579364376
3Atletico MadridAtletico351615447262163
4Sevilla351712651341763
5Villarreal351761257451257
6Getafe351411104334953
7Real Sociedad34156135143851
8Valencia351311114551-650
9Athletic Bilbao351212113931848
10Granada34138134240247
11Osasuna351112124050-1045
12Levante35127164249-743
13Real Betis351011144755-841
14Real Valladolid35815122939-1039
15EibarEibar3599173451-1736
16Celta Vigo35715133444-1036
17AlavesAlaves3498173251-1935
18Mallorca3595213759-2232
19Leganes35611182549-2429
20Espanyol3559212755-2824

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