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Barcelona book their place in the final

FC Barcelona - València 8/02/2012 / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Xavi rejoices after sealing the win
Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final after beating Valencia 2-0 at the Camp Nou. Barcelona were the better team on the night and if they had taken a few more chances, would've killed the game off very early on. Cesc Fàbregas and Xavi Hernandez were both on the score sheet as Barça ensured Pep Guardiola's twelfth final since he arrived on the Barça bench.

Both teams started the game with equal opportunities but neither side could create any real goal scoring chances. Feghouli saw his shot hit the side netting before the deadlock was broken in the 15th minute.

Cesc Fàbregas made a well timed run and was picked out by Lionel Messi from inside his own half. The summer signing looked to have overrun the opportunity but you can never rule out an inform player such as Fàbregas from finding the net. From the acutest angle Fàbregas chipped the ball over the Valencia keeper and put Barça ahead.

This goal jetted Barça into their stride. They began playing with their world famous tiki-taka style and started to dominate Valencia. Young starlet Cuenca should've doubled Barcelona's lead when Messi saw his shot saved and fall to the feet of Cuenca. The 20 year old had time but dragged his shot wide of the post.

Diego Alves produced a string of saves during the game that kept his team in the tie. Most notably a great reaction save from a well worked free kick between Xavi and Messi. Xavi laid the ball off to Messi who blasted his shot low but Alves moved quickly to deny the Argentine.

After another close call for Valencia, the half time whistle blew and Barcelona were strong favourites to go on and won the game. But Valencia almost rewrote the script after the interval. Jordi Alba broke clear of the Barcelona defence but could not squeeze his shot past an outstretched Pinto.

2012-02-08 FCB - VALENCIA CF 006
Cesc celebrates the opening goal
Barça soon regained dominance and this time it was up to the bar to save Valencia. Messi worked room for himself in the box before his shot was deflected into the air. A scrambling Alves could only pray and got his reward as the ball bounced off the bar for a corner.

Next the three time Ballon d'Or winner crept through an impossibly small gap and was through on goal but another fine save from Alves prevented Messi. It was the same situation eight minutes later as Alves again stopped Messi.

Valencia's chances decreased further when Feghouli received his second yellow for a needless tussle with Carles Puyol. The winger threw his arm into Puyol's face and received his marching orders from the referee.

The man advantage paid off for Pep's men as their lead was soon doubled. A set of neat passes produced the goal as Messi played a through ball to Alexis Sánchez, who held the ball up well. The Chiliean fed the ball to Fàbregas who cushioned the ball into Xavi's path. Xavi took his chance and buried the ball into the top corner of the goal.

Guardiola brang on fresh legs to help retain his lead. A returning Andrés Iniesta added experience to the game whilst Dani Alves and Tello brought fresh pace. After one more save from Alves, Barcelona won the game 2-0 and sealed their place in the Copa del Rey final aganist Athletic Bilbao.

Full time result: Barcelona 2-0 Valencia (3-1 on aggregate)

Goal scorers: Fàbregas (15) Xavi (81) Valencia: None

Team lineup:
Barcelona: Pinto, Puyol, Mascherano, Piqué, Abidal, Thiago, Xavi, Fábregas (Iniesta 90), Cuenca (Tello 89), Messi, Alexis (Dani Alves 86) Subs: Víctor Valdés, Adriano, Jonathan dos Santos, Bartra
Formation: 4-3-3

Valencia: Diego Alves, Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Jordi Alba, Albelda (Parejo 85), Banega (Tino Costa 69), Feghouli, Jonas (Piatti 79), Mathieu, Aduriz Subs: Bruno, Guaita, Ricardo Costa, Juan Bernat
Formation: 4-2-3-1

Stadium: Camp Nou

Referee: Fernández Borbalán

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