Celta de Vigo booked their place in the Copa del Rey semifinals with a 3-2 win over Atletico on Wednesday.
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After dumping Atletico Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, Celta Vigo’s Eduardo Berizzo reflected on the biggest result of his coaching career.
However, the Basques failed to take a series of chances when on top before half-time and Barca responded in the second period thanks to goals from Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Neymar.
Barcelona are on to the semis after dispatching Athletic Bilbao 3-1 at Camp Nou. Atletico were without Jan Oblak, Augusto Fernandez and Stefan Savic from their most recent game against Sevilla and Atletico looked decidedly less secure without the Slovenian between the posts, in particular. The Bilbao striker collected a defence-splitting through ball from Aritz Aduriz before rounding Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and poking the ball into an empty net.
“We didn’t play badly”.
Neymar then capped the scoring in second-half stoppage time with a lashed, left-footed shot into Herrerin’s top left corner from just outside the box.
“Jackson? The game was well set and we wanted to play football on the ground”.
After a scoreless first leg, Hernandez broke Atletico’s run of five consecutive clean sheets at its Vicente Calderon Stadium in the 22nd minute.
Celta have reached the last four for the first time in 15 years, and they took the lead in the tie when Argentinean midfielder Pablo Hernandez fired them in front midway through the first half, only for Antoine Griezmann to quickly level matters.
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The Gunners have also been linked with Nolito, and while they may have struggled to compete with Barca for the player’s attention, they may now have free rein to move for the hotshot who, with eight goals so far in this La Liga season, could be the ideal addition to see the north-London heavyweights over the line in the title race.
