Madrid and Barcelona close on final meeting
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
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Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona closed on a Copa del Rey final meeting, Olympique Lyonnais reached the French League Cup decider and AS Roma neared the Coppa Italia showpiece.
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Copa del Rey
Real Madrid CF have one foot in the final after a 3-0 first-leg victory against capital rivals Club Atlético de Madrid, who they lost to in last season's decider. The Merengues went in front when Pepe's effort deflected in off Emiliano Insua after 17 minutes. Jesé's cute finish doubled Carlo Ancelotti's side's advantage after the break, before another ricocheted shot – this time from Ángel Di María – completed the scoring.
FC Barcelona, battling it out with Madrid and Atlético at the Liga summit, are well placed to in the other semi-final thanks to a 2-0 defeat of Real Sociedad de Fútbol. The Azulgrana prevailed courtesy of Sergio Busquets' close-range effort and an own goal from Eñaut Zubikarai. La Real had Iñigo Martínez dismissed before the interval.
Coppa Italia
AS Roma will take a 3-2 advantage into the second instalment of their semi-final against SSC Napoli. The visitors started impressively but were undone by an incisive through ball from Francesco Totti that Gervinho neatly clipped over Pepe Reina before tapping in on 13 minutes. The Giallorossi's lead was doubled just before the half-hour mark when Kevin Strootman surged forwards before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner from 25 metres.
The Partenopei prised a foothold in the game a minute after half-time when Gonzalo Higuaín's deflected effort was inadvertently helped into the net by home goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis. Dries Mertens (70) then burst through to restore parity only for Gervinho to drill Roma in front late on to leave the tie finely balance ahead of next Wednesday's return.
French League Cup
Olympique Lyonnais set up a French League Cup final with Paris Saint-Germain thanks to a 2-1 victory against second-tier ES Troyes AC. Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring for the Gones in the 16th minute and, when Bafétimbi Gomis doubled their advantage ten minutes later, it looked as though it would be plain sailing for the Ligue 1 outfit. However, Thiago Xavier pulled one back 11 minutes before the break to set up a tense second half. The UEFA Europa League contenders held on, though, and remain on course for their second French League Cup having won it last in 2001.
FA Cup
The FA Cup fifth round lineup is complete after second-tier side Nottingham Forest FC won 2-0 at Preston North End FC of the third division. Forest will face Sheffield United FC in the last 16, where Manchester City FC welcome Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC host Liverpool FC.