Suaraze as Barca in final
■ Barcelona bomber scores, sees red, will miss Copa del Rey title clash
Barcelona, Feb. 8: Luis Suarez booked Barcelona’s place in a fourth consecutive Copa del Rey final but was sent off as a bad-tempered 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday secured a 3-2 aggregate win.
Suarez’s second goal of the tie looked to have put the semifinal beyond the visitors just before halftime. However, the Uruguayan was one of three players sent-off in the second-half and will miss May’s final against Alaves or Celta Vigo.
Kevin Gameiro set up a grandstand finish seven minutes from time moments after blazing a penalty over the bar. But Barca saw out five minutes of stoppage time with nine men after Suarez’s first red card for the club.
“It makes me laugh because it was like he (the referee) wanted to do it,” an angry Suarez told Gol Television. “We need to see if we can appeal the second yellow because it isn’t even a foul, but we already know how these things go.”
Barca’s nerves were eased when Atletico were also reduced to 10 men 21 minutes from time when a slip from Carrasco saw him wipe out Arda Turan, the Belgian also being shown a second yellow card. Suarez was the third player to be shown a second yellow for a stray elbow on Koke.
Messi’s incredible run of scoring free-kicks in 2017 nearly continued with a driven effort from fully 35 yards that came crashing back off the bar.
Atletico were given a lifeline when Gerard Pique was adjudged to have tripped Gameiro inside the area with 10 minutes remaining. Griezmann handed over responsiblity to his compatriot, but Gameiro blazed over.
— AFP