That’s all for now. Thanks for following along with us as always and be sure to check back later for a full match report.
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Barcelona will likely face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final. That’s not firmed up just yet, but Los Nervionenses hold a 4-0 lead entering tomorrow’s return leg of their semi-final tie with Celta Vigo and anything else would require a breathtaking capitulation.
Full-time: Valencia 1-1 Barcelona (1-8 aggregate)
There’s the final whistle and Barcelona are once again through to the Copa del Rey final. What’s more, Kaptoum’s debut goal extends Barcelona’s streak to 29 straight games without a loss, besting the club’s previous record of 28 under Pep Guardiola in 2011.
90 min+2: Barca not exactly going all out for a winner. Looking like this one will end a draw.
90 min: The fourth official calls for two minutes of stoppage time.
89 min: A note from Peter Oh, via email, who knows to find a silver lining.
The optimist in me sees Mestalla as 1/16th full, not 15/16ths empty.
Maybe this is the only way a fan can be heard nowadays. When no one else is sitting within 40 seats of you!
88 min: Iban shown yellow for retaliating during a fracas.
GOAL! Valencia 1-1 Barcelona (Kaptoum, 84 min)
Rapid build-up on the left flank with a pass to the overlapping runner quickly swung inside to Kaptoum, who drives it into the back of the goal with the inside of his right foot. A potential streak-saving goal for the Cameroonian three minutes into his senior debut.
82 min: And Barca answers with their final switch: Kaptoum on for Sandro.
80 min: Iban on for Villalba, Valencia’s third and final sub.
79 min: A quick-developing counter-attack by Valencia capped by a nice overlapping run but the shot sails out.
76 min: A pair of subs for Barcelona: Douglas and Camara enter for Rakitic and Adriano.
74 min: A wonderfully struck free kick by Danilo nearly curls into the goal and demands the very best of Ter Stegen, who fully extends for the save!
73 min: Samper shown yellow for a foul on Piatti.
72 min: The ball is played from Piatta through to Gomes, who very nearly slips it past Ter Stegen into the goal within seconds of entering! Can’t quite get it in but an auspicious start for the substitute.
71 min: Another sub here as Gomes enters for Mina, Valencia’s second switch.
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70 min: The chance is wasted as Piatti’s effort sails high over the bar.
69 min: A strong, patient build-up from Valencia is disrupted when Bakkali is fouled on the corner of the area. A good chance for the hosts coming here.
66 min: A moment of inspiration for Barcelona as Sergi connects with Sandro but it’s snuffed out. Then moments later Rakitic beats a couple of defenders and fires directly at the Valencia keeper and it’s saved: Barca’s first shot on target in 66 minutes.
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65 min: Rakitic swings it into the box, but Vermaelen’s header sails out and Valencia will have a goal kick.
64 min: The kick is driven into the wall and caroms out for a corner.
62 min: Diallo wins a foul and Valencia look to quickly attack but they’re dispossessed. Barca counters quickly, then a clumsy challenge by Gaya on Vidal just outside the area earns Gaya a yellow and Barca a free-kick chance from a dangerous spot.
60 min: An hour down and Valencia have made their first change: Bakkali on for the goal-scorer Negredo.
57 min: Valencia have looked better since half-time, doing a better job of keeping possession and building up towards chances.
54 min: Munir shown yellow for a foul on Piatti.
52 min: Piatti continues to cause havoc in the final third, involved in two chances for Valencia just now, but Barca’s back four closes in on both.
49 min: Rudderless start for both sides. Not much action or sustained possession either way.
46 min: We’re back underway in the second half ... and within 45 seconds a ball is crossed into Mina and he very nearly buries it past a stationary Ter Stegen to make it 2-0! Alas, it just sails over the crossbar.
Negredo’s notch is the difference so far, a very English goal indeed. That’s all that separates the sides through 45 minutes. Barcelona hold a 7-1 lead on aggregate entering the second half.
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Half-time: Valencia 1-0 Barcelona
The last kick of the half comes on a Valencia corner that’s well place but headed off target. No stoppage time necessary as the referee blows the whistle and the teams decamp for the locker rooms. Can Valencia hold on for 45 more minutes?
44 min: Danilo’s shot is easily corralled by Ter Stegen.
43 min: A dangerous free-kick opportunity for Barca. Well struck on an angle toward an onrushing Munir, but his header is way off target.
41 min: Barcelona’s passage to the final remains safe, but their streak of 28 straight matches without a loss is in legitimate peril.
GOAL! Valencia 1-0 Barcelona (Negredo, 39 min)
And the comeback is on! (I’m so sorry.) A long ball clubbed forward to no one in particular falls to Negredo in full sprint, who tries to lob Ter Stegen. Can’t quite do it, but Ter Stegen’s deflection falls to Negredo’s foot and he taps it into the goal. It’s now 7-1 on aggregate.
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38 min: Another corner for Barcelona. Rakitic takes it, but it sails past the area and Valencia have a quick counter.
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35 min: The kick is left for Rakitic and his attempt is way off the mark.
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34 min: Diallo shown yellow for flashing a little too much elbow while jockeying for the ball. Barca will have a free kick from a dangerous area.
33 min: Says James W, via Twitter:
I'm going to judge @BryanAGraham's ability as a writer purely on whether he resists the awful 'the comeback is on' joke if Valencia score
— James W (@JamesW_754) February 10, 2016
Not much to indicate I’ll be given the opportunity.
31 min: Barcelona win a foul on the edge of the area near the left sideline and will have a free kick. Rakitic to take it and misses wildly. Goal kick for Valencia.
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30 min: A half hour down and hardly the most gripping action. A few chances for both sides with Barca doing a slightly better job of keeping possession.
28 min: Valencia with a great chance from outside the area but it just soars high of the crossbar.
25 min: Barca win a corner. Easily cleared.
23 min: A note from Charles Antakia, via email:
Sergi Roberto and Sandro have presumably been put on to display what Barça’s next team might look like, one if the fans behave and the other if they don’t.
21 min: Negredo dishes to a Valencia team-mate who crosses the ball to a dangerous area, but Mathieu saves Barcelona with a beautifully timed last-gasp tackle.
19 min: A look at Mestalla atmosphere via the self-explanatory Twitter feed @EmptySeatsPics.
.@GNev2 finding management a tad bit difficult at the moment. #MestallaVacioEnCopa (https://t.co/9wkIzONaof) pic.twitter.com/UIGs1C3W6t
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) February 10, 2016
2nd leg of the #CopaDelRey tie between Valencia and Barcelona. Home team down 7-0 after the 1st leg. pic.twitter.com/iFiLN97TaA
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) February 10, 2016
17 min: Sergi runs with the ball past a few Valencia players and delivers a well placed cross to Sandro, but his header misses the target.
15 min: Vidal digs an elbow into the back of a Valencia player, giving the hosts a free kick on the area. A dangerous opportunity, but it’s cleared fairly easily. Valencia not exactly making the most of the few chances they’ve earned so far.
12 min: Valencia corner is off target and cleared easily. Barca now playing their familiar short-passing game in the middle third, probing the hosts’ defense.
11 min: Vezo surges forward and has a go, Valencia’s first substantial chance, but he misses the mark. Off a Barca player and out for a Valencia corner, however.
9 min: Rakitic’s low-hanging cross toward an onrushing Sandro misses the mark but Valencia can’t clear it and Barca are holding looking to re-organize in attack.
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8 min: Munir hacked down just outside the area near the right sideline. A free-kick opportunity here.
6 min: Lots of pressure from Barcelona early, forcing the Valencia defenders to work hard to clear it from the final third.
4 min: A wonderful ball played forward to Munir, who wraps it back to Sandro on the edge of the box. His shot sails well over the crossbar but a semi-dangerous chance early for the visitors.
2 min: Entire oceans of empty seats here at the Mestalla. Morale is low. Both sides trading possession mostly in the middle third.
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1 min: And they’re off! Valencia attacking left to right in white shirts and black shorts, Barca in their classic Blaugrana going from right to left.
The players have emerged from the tunnel. Eight changes for Valencia, 10 for Barca. Almost unrecognizable sides from the opener.
As inconsequential as today’s match feels given Barcelona’s 7-0 aggregate lead, there’s a sense it could have an impact on the job status of Valencia’s Gary Neville. The former Manchester United defender is starting an XI that indicates his focus is already turned to Saturday’s La Liga match against Espanyol, where he will try for first league win in charge of the club. But there’s no question a win over Barca, even a significantly weakened edition, would be a welcome boost.
Greetings and welcome to the Copa del Rey semi-final between Valencia and Barcelona at the Mestalla Stadium. Barca enter today’s match with a lopsided advantage after a 7-0 victory in last week’s first leg at the Camp Nou. With the visitors all but assured of a place in a the final, Luis Enrique has left 10 regular starters out of today’s team including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. Barca B youngsters Wilfrid Kaptoum, Sergi Samper, Dani Romera, Juan Camara and Gerard Gumbau are among those to get the call-up.
Here’s a look at today’s teams:
Valencia
Domenech; Vezo, Santos, Diallo, Gaya; Danilo, Villalba, Zahibo; Mina, Negredo, Piatti
Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Adriano, Bartra, Vermaelen, Mathieu; Rakitic, Samper, Sergi; Vidal, Munir, Sandro
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at Valencia manager Gary Neville’s state of mind heading into tonight’s mission impossible against Barcelona.
