Madrid - Arabstoday
Barça stars celebrate one of their nine goals
Barcelona, fielding a side full of youngsters from the club’s academy, routed Catalan neighbours Hospitalet to complete a 10-0 aggregate win over the third-tier side to reach the last 16 of Spain’s King’s Cup on
Thursday. Valencia also cruised through by thumping third-tier Cadiz 4-0 after drawing 0-0 at the south coast club in the away leg.
Braces from Thiago Alcantara, Cristian Tello and Isaac Cuenca and one goal each from Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Pedro thrilled the 60,000 fans at Barca’s Nou Camp.
Andres Iniesta has been sidelined for two weeks after picking up an injury in Barcelona’s 9-0 massacre of third-tier minnows Hospitalet, the club said Friday.
“Iniesta will out of action for 15 days after sustaining a muscle injury,” Barcelona said in a statement on the club website after the domestic King’s Cup competition match Thursday night.
The 27-year-old international midfielder tore a muscle in his left thigh when he collided with the Hospitalet keeper, Carlos Craviotto, in the 27th minute of the lopsided clash, it said.
The injury means Iniesta will miss Barcelona’s last-16 away game in the King’s Cup as well as their league fixture with Espanyol on January 7 or 8, the team said.
In the earlier kickoff at the Mestalla, Cadiz’s bid to upset Valencia was set back in the fifth minute when Victor Ruiz nodded the home side in front.
Playmaker Jonas and striker Roberto Soldado made it 3-0 by halftime and Ever Banega added a fourth with just over 20 minutes remaining.
The draw for the next round is on Friday.