Barcelona reserves hammer Real Murcia in Copa del Rey
MADRID: A much-changed Barcelona made light work of third-tier Real Murcia to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Copa del Rey last 32 tie. With the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta rested, Paco Alcacer, Gerard Deulofeu and Jose Manuel Arnaiz, on his debut, took their chance.
“I’m happy because today we played with people from the B team and those that haven’t played as much and it was a good test for them,” Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said.
Murcia should have gone in front when Fernando Llorente blasted over from inside the area midway through the first half.
Alcacer headed home his first goal since netting in last season’s Cup final a minute before halftime from Deulofeu’s cross. The former Everton winger scored his first Barca goal against Malaga at the weekend and quickly added a second with a fine individual run and finish seven minutes after the break. Arnaiz was the only one of Barca’s youngsters who have shone for Barca B in the second division, to be handed a debut by Valverde from the start. And the 22-year-old showed why when he cut inside to fire into the far corner from outside the area four minutes later.
Valencia continued fine form as Rodrigo and Dani Parejo, from the penalty spot, struck in the final minutes to secure a 2-0 firstleg win over Real Zaragoza. Sevilla shrugged off three straight defeats to cruise towards the last 16 with a 3-0 win at Cartagena.
MAN CITY ENTER LEAGUE CUP QUARTERS
LONDON: Manchester City were kept at bay for 120 minutes by Wolverhampton Wanderers before winning 4-1 in a penalty shootout to reach the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
City, seeking a club record 12th straight win, met their match in the Championship leaders and had keeper Claudio Bravo to thank for keeping them in the game before they eased through in the shootout with Sergio Aguero scoring the final penalty.
Holders Manchester United made eight changes to the side humbled by Huddersfield Town on Saturday but were too strong for Swansea City with Jesse Lingard scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.
Arsenal put out new starting XI from that which faced Everton and had substitute Eddie Nketiah to thank for the 2-1 extra-time win over Norwich City. The 18-yearold scored twice --- his first goals for the club --- including one with his first touch 15 seconds after coming on in the 85th minute. Nketiah added his second six minutes into extra time as Arsenal finally saw off the challenge of the visitors.