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Ceuta 0-5 Barcelona: The visitors follow up on Spanish Super Cup success with victory over third division minnows to secure a place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals…with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice and Raphinha also in goal
Robert Lewandowski scored a brace and guided a second-string Barcelona team to a 5-0 win at third-tier Ceuta in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Thursday.
Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Franck Kessie also scored against an unfortunate Ceuta.
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez made 10 changes to the team that won the Spanish Super Cup final 3-1 against Real Madrid on Sunday, resting all his key players with the exception of Lewandowski.
Raphinha opened the scoring with a low left footed shot from outside the area in the 41st minute
The visitors dominated in all aspects of the game and took the lead in the 40th minute when Raphinha struck from the edge of the box.
Lewandowski extended Barca’s lead five minutes after the break when Kessie stole the ball from a Ceuta defender and passed it to the Polish striker for an easy tuck.
Substitute Fati made it 3-0 in the 70th minute by dribbling past a defender before hitting a right-footed shot at the far post.
Robert Lewandowski doubled his lead from inside the area in the 50th minute
Kessie scored the fourth with a header from Raphinha’s cross on 77′ and Lewandowski finished off a counterattack with a light touch to the keeper’s left on 90′.
Barça joined Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna, Real Sociedad and Sevilla in the quarterfinals.
Real Madrid take on Villarreal later on Thursday to complete the round of 16.
Ansu Fati scored Barcelona’s third goal after a break on 70′
“These matches can be difficult if you don’t play 100%, so we had to take it very seriously,” Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto said.
‘After the second goal things got a little easier. We are happy to move on to the next round.’
Barcelona did not make it past the round of 16 of the Cup last season, being eliminated by Athletic Bilbao.
He had won five Cup trophies in seven seasons before that.
Midfielder Franck Kessie made it 4-0 with a header from point-blank range in the 77th minute
Ceuta had beaten first division club Elche in the round of 32.
Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna have also reached the quarterfinals.
The draw for the round of 16 will be on Friday.
Defending champion Real Betis was eliminated by Osasuna in a penalty shootout on Wednesday.
Barca striker Lewandowski sealed the win with his second goal in the 90th minute