Valencia sets up Barcelona semi-final

Valencia sets up Barcelona semi-final

Published Jan. 27, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

Valencia cruised into the last four of the Copa del Rey with a comfortable 3-0 win over city rivals Levante in the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday evening.

Los Che were as good as through to the semi-finals following their 4-1 victory in the first leg at the Mestalla, and made sure of their progress by an emphatic 7-1 aggregate scoreline thanks to Pablo Piatti's brace and an Aritz Aduriz strike tonight.

Aduriz got the ball rolling with a first-time effort from Piatti's pull back on 25 minutes, while Piatti made it 2-0 five minutes later after latching onto Juan Bernat's through ball and coolly firing past Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua.

Levante's misery was compounded when Oscar Serrano was sent off for a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, while Piatti completed his double in the 85th minute when he lashed home on the rebound after Munua parried Aduriz's header.

ADVERTISEMENT

Valencia now progress to a semi-final against reigning Spanish and European champions Barcelona, with the first leg at the Mestalla next Wednesday and the return at the Nou Camp a week later on February 8.

The second semi-final pits Athletic Bilbao against surprise package Mirandes of the Spanish third tier.
 

share