MADRID, March 4, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Barcelona needed extra-time to reach the
Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, with a 3-2 aggregate win over Sevilla coming
just two days after a police raid on the club and the arrest of their former
president.
Having trailed 2-0 from the first leg, Danish international Martin
Braithwaite hit the crucial goal in the fifth minute of extra-time with a
diving header off a Jordi Alba cross.
Gerard Pique had equalised in the fourth minute of stoppage time with
virtually the last play of the game to save Barca.
The veteran international headed in at the near post after a fine cross
from Antoine Griezmann.
That was after Ousmane Dembele, who scored in the 2-0 win at Sevilla in La
Liga at the weekend, had given the 30-time Spanish Cup winners a 12th-minute
lead in the second leg.
However, Sevilla could have killed the game off in the 73rd minute.
They were awarded a penalty when Lucas Ocampos was brought down by Oscar
Mingueza.
However, Ocampos saw his tame right-foot effort from the spot saved by
Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Flagging Sevilla were then reduced to 10 men in injury time when Brazilian
Fernando was red-carded for a foul on Francisco Trincao.
It was a much-needed win for Barcelona after former president Josep Maria
Bartomeu, current chief executive Oscar Grau, head of legal services Roma
Gomez Ponti and Bartomeu’s advisor Jaume Masferrer were arrested by Catalan
police, who searched the club’s offices on Monday morning.
They were all questioned in relation to last year’s “Barcagate” scandal.
The club holds its presidential elections later this week.
The search of Barcelona’s stadium was part of a probe into allegations the
club carried out a defamation campaign against current and former players who
were critical of Bartomeu.
Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claimed in February 2020 that Barca
covered up inflated payments to a company called I3 Ventures which it had
hired to boost the image of the club on social media.
Part of the social media campaign included criticising current and former
players like Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez, and iconic coach Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona will face either Athletic Bilbao or Levante, who are 1-1 in
their semi-final, in the final on April 17 in Seville.
Before that, however, Barcelona will attempt another comeback effort when
they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League
last 16 tie next week.