Pedro Rodriguez netted a first-half hat-trick as Barcelona crushed third-tier Sociedad Deportiva Huesca 8-1 in the Copa del Rey, while Valencia joined the Catalans in the round-of-16 after an eight-goal thriller with Rayo Vallecano de Madrid on Tuesday.
RC Celta de Vigo and UD Almeria also advanced from a high-scoring night that saw 24 goals in just four matches.
Despite resting Lionel Messi, Neymar and several other starters, Barcelona proved way too much for Huesca to handle at the Camp Nou and had no remorse about piling on the agony after winning the first leg 4-0.
Photo: AFP
Pedro headed in his first goal in the 20th minute and added a second six minutes later. Sergi Roberto volleyed in Barcelona’s third in the 29th minute, Andres Iniesta struck in the 39th and Pedro got his hat-trick two minutes before halftime.
Adriano and Sandro Ramirez then scored either side of youngster Adama Traore’s first goal for Barcelona’s first team in the 78th minute.
Carlos David scored Huesca’s goal following a corner four minutes from time, steering the ball past goalkeeper Jordi Masip on his debut for Barcelona.
“It is difficult for me to imagine a better game than this,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.
Barcelona next play either Elche or Real Valladolid.
Valencia twice came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 4-4 with Rayo and secure a 6-5 victory on aggregate.
Spain striker Paco Alcacer opened the scoring at the Estadio Mestalla by finishing off a shot that hit the post in the eighth minute.
Rayo, who had lost 2-1 at home in the first leg, roared back with three goals from Jozabed Sanchez, Alejandro Pozuelo and Jonathan Pereira by the 38th minute.
Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo made three changes at halftime and the payoff quickly arrived when substitute Pablo Piatti’s shot seconds after the break was turned into his own net by Rayo defender Jorge Morcillo to narrow the deficit.
Adrian Embarba put Rayo 4-2 ahead in the 61st minute, but Alcacer scored again by slotting home a rebound that had come off the upright in the 65th, before Rodrigo Moreno completed the comeback five minutes later.
Moreno then received a straight red card for kicking an opponent in the 82nd minute and Valencia managed to hang on in the final minutes.
“We have earned the right to believe in ourselves,” Espirito Santo said.
Emotions also ran high in RC Celta de Vigo’s 3-1 win over UD Las Palmas, where the hosts needed Fabian Orellana to curl in a strike in stoppage-time to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory.
UD Almeria added to the action when Jonathan Zongo netted with a strike from near the halfway line in a 2-1 win over Real Betis Balompie.
Almeria advanced 6-4 on aggregate in coach Juan Ignacio Martinez’s first game in charge.
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