The days of Barcelona followers booing Ousmane Dembele are a relic of the previous, because the Camp Nou erupted in rapturous applause on Wednesday evening, when the France ahead masterminded the hosts’ development to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.
Dembele scored the profitable aim early within the second half as Barcelona defeated 10-man Real Sociedad 1-0 to return to the final 4 after a 12 months of absence.
The end result ended a nine-game profitable streak for Sociedad, which performed a person down from the fortieth minute after Brais Mendez was despatched off for a harmful deal with on Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets.
It was Sociedad’s twenty seventh straight loss to Barcelona as a customer. It has not received on the Catalan membership in 31 matches, relationship to 1991.
The Basque Country aspect arrived as one of many hottest groups in Spain with 21 wins in 28 matches in all competitions this season, with 13 of these wins coming in away video games. It had misplaced solely 4 instances total and is third within the Spanish league, six factors behind chief Barcelona.
Barcelona was in management for a lot of the match, although, and opened the scoring within the 52nd by means of Dembele’s angled shot from inside the realm after a go into area by defender Jules Kounde.
“What an excellent sport by Ousmane. We know his high quality. He has been serving to us rather a lot, and now with targets as effectively. He has been making the distinction, making all the fitting selections, which earlier than possibly was one thing that he struggled with,” stated Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
Barcelona followers had been upset with Dembele after he refused to just accept the membership’s resolution to mortgage him to a different membership final summer time. He has been taking part in effectively and been essential for the crew just lately, although, and once more created a number of alternatives on Wednesday earlier than scoring his third aim in six matches.
Some followers had been on their toes to offer him an ovation when Dembele was changed by Ansu Fati within the 84th.
“He has matured rather a lot. We solely gave him confidence, we consider in him,” stated Barcelona coach Xaviabout the 25-year-old Dembele.
Sociedad had a few good possibilities close to the tip however couldn’t capitalize on them, with Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen arising with massive saves.
“We competed effectively whereas 11 towards 11 and after happening a person as effectively. We are happy with how we performed regardless that we had been eradicated,” stated Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo.
Barcelona was eradicated within the spherical of 16 final season and received the Copa in 2021 for its final title earlier than the departure of Lionel Messi. The Catalan membership has received 4 matches in a row, together with the Spanish Super Cup ultimate towards Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia.
Xavi had Robert Lewandowski again after the Poland striker couldn’t play towards Getafe within the Spanish league due to a suspension.
Sociedad was with out veteran playmaker David Silva owing to a muscle damage.
Barcelona eradicated third-division membership Ceuta within the spherical of 16, whereas Sociedad bought previous Mallorca.
Sevilla ousted
Osasuna defeated visiting Sevilla 2-1 in additional time to succeed in the Copa semifinals for the primary time since 2002-03.
Abde Ezzalzouli scored the winner on a 99th-minute breakaway after Sevilla had compelled additional time with a stoppage-time aim by Youssef En-Nesyri.
The hosts opened the scoring by means of Chimy Avila within the 71st.
Sevilla, one level from the relegation zone within the Spanish league, final made it to the semifinals in 2020-21.
On Thursday, Real Madrid hosts metropolis rival Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao visits Valencia.
The draw for the semifinals can be held on Monday.
