Ferran Torres delivered a sensational performance, scoring a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Valencia 5-0 on Thursday to secure a place in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
The victory, powered by additional goals from Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal, was a statement win for the record 31-time Spanish Cup champions at an uneasy Mestalla stadium.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick’s decision to rest star striker Robert Lewandowski paid off as former Valencia forward Torres stole the spotlight. He struck just three minutes into the match, converting a precise pass from Alejandro Balde with a clinical finish against his old club.
Torres doubled Barcelona’s lead after 17 minutes, reacting quickest when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal’s effort bounced off the post into his path.
Lopez extended the advantage midway through the first half, latching onto Pedri Gonzalez’s perfectly weighted pass, skipping past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, and calmly finishing into an empty net.
Torres completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner after being set up by Raphinha.
His impressive display highlighted Barcelona’s attacking depth, with the team now scoring five or more goals in their last four games without Lewandowski in the starting lineup.
Disillusioned Valencia fans began to leave the stadium in protest, venting their frustration with chants and banners directed at owner Peter Lim.
It was Valencia’s second humbling defeat to Barcelona in two weeks, having been hammered 7-1 in La Liga at Camp Nou.
Valencia thought they had a lifeline early in the second half when Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq found the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Moments later, Sadiq won a penalty that was also overturned for offside in the buildup.
Yamal, who had earlier hit the post again, finally found the net with a low shot that deflected slightly on its way past Dimitrievski, who could have done better.
Meanwhile, in San Sebastian, Ander Barrenetxea and Brais Mendez struck for Real Sociedad before Osasuna’s Alejandro Catena was shown a red card for a reckless challenge after 35 minutes.
Osasuna had defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 in La Liga just days earlier, but Catena’s sending-off dashed any hopes of a comeback.
Earlier in the day, Real Sociedad earned a comfortable 2-0 victory over 10-man Osasuna, joining Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the competition’s last four.
Real Sociedad reached the Copa del Rey semifinals for the third time in six seasons, having last lifted the trophy in 2020.
