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Played
January 4, 2012 4:00 PM EST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee:‬ David Fernandez Borbalan‎
Attendance:‬ 64124‎
 
 
 
72′ Lionel Messi
 
90+1′ Lionel Messi
 
Top of the Match
Cesc Fàbregas
Cesc Fàbregas
Barcelona
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
Flop of the Match
Sergio
Sergio
Osasuna
Sergio
Sergio
Osasuna

Barcelona 4-0 Osasuna: Fabregas and Messi at the double as Catalans close in on Copa del Rey quarterfinals

Xavi proved to be the architect with all four assists as the La Liga champions produced a superb attacking performance to see off Jose Luis Mendilibar's side on Wednesday

By Charlie Scott

A dominant Barcelona side romped to an easy 4-0 win over Osasuna at Camp Nou in the first leg of their round of 16 Copa del Rey encounter.

Despite some notable absentees in the form of David Villa and Andres Iniesta, and with Lionel Messi initially confined to the bench with flu, Barcelona was in full control of the game after just 20 minutes courtesy of a finely-taken brace from Cesc Fabregas. However Messi still managed to have a considerable impact on the game by scoring the third and fourth goals for his side after coming on a substitute.

The away side set out to match its illustrious opponent by pushing men forward early on, and did manage to work the ball into a number of promising positions early on but failed to force Pinto into making any notable saves.

However after a heavy period of pressure, Barcelona eventually took the lead when Fabregas finished off a fine team move from inside the area after being played in by Xavi.

Xavi continued to dictate proceedings from midfield and he was the provider once more as Fabregas scored his and Barcelona's second just minutes later, the Spanish international lifting an exquisite chip over Asier Riesgo and into the top corner from 15 yards out.

As the home side threatened a repeat of Osasuna's last visit to Camp Nou, when it was comprehensively thrashed 8-0, Barcelona's players appeared to be lining up to get themselves on the scoresheet with Xavi, Thiago and Alves all coming close to adding to the lead before the break.

Messi was introduced around the hour mark as Pep Guardiola looked to take a comfortable lead to Osasuna's formidable Reyno de Navarra ground next week.

The Argentine came within inches of scoring Barcelona's third after miraculously dancing his way into the area and chipping the ball past both Riesgo in the Osasuna goal and his right-hand post.

It only took Messi 13 minutes to get on the scoresheet however, as he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to emphatically head home Xavi's cross midway through the second half.

The diminutive Argentine then completed the rout, making it 4-0 with a curling finish from the edge of the area after Xavi had again unlocked the Osasuna defense with a well-weighted through ball.
 
Barcelona travels to Osasuna on Jan. 12 for the second leg of this tie, but, after its comfortable victory this evening it may already have one eye on a potential quarterfinal clash against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, which takes a 3-2 lead to Malaga ahead of its second leg tie.

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Barcelona

13
3.0
2
Daniel Alves
Defender
3.5
3
Gerard Piqué
Defender
3.5
5
Carles Puyol
Defender
3.5
14
Javier Mascherano
Midfielder
3.5
6
Xavi
Midfielder
4.0
16
3.5
11
Thiago Alcántara
Midfielder
3.5
4
Cesc Fàbregas
Midfielder
15′ 17′ 19′ 87′
4.0
17
Pedro
Striker
59′
3.0

Osasuna

3.0
13
Asier Riesgo
Goalkeeper
2.5
20
Jukka Raitala
Defender
2.0
5
3.0
24
Damià
Defender
2.0
23
Sergio
Defender
44′
2.0
18
Anunziatta
Midfielder
84′
2.0
16
Álvaro Cejudo
Midfielder
68′
3.0
6
Javad Nekounam
Midfielder
27′
2.5
22
Timor
Midfielder
2.0
9
Dejan Lekic
Striker

Substitutes

38
-
21
Adriano
Midfielder
-
24
-
30
Sergi Roberto
Midfielder
-
-
Maxwell
Defender
-
34
Rafinha
Midfielder
-
15
Seydou Keita
Midfielder
87′
-
37
Tello
Striker
-
9
3.0
10
Lionel Messi
Striker
59′ 72′ 91′
4.0

Substitutes

-
1
Ricardo
Goalkeeper
-
-
Satrústegui
Defender
-
4
Miguel Flaño
Defender
2.0
10
Patxi Puñal
Midfielder
71′
-
11
Javier Calleja
Midfielder
2.5
19
Ibrahima
Striker
84′
2.5
21
Roland Lamah
Midfielder
68′

Coach/Manager

-
-

Coach/Manager

 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
First Leg
Times In EST
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Pablo Infante Pablo Infante
Striker
Mirandés
6 1
Fernando Llorente Torres Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker
Bilbao
5 0
Álvaro Álvaro
Striker
Espanyol
5 0
Stuani Stuani
Striker
Racing Santander
4 1
Pedro Pedro
Striker
Barcelona
4 1