Barca to face Madrid in Copa del Rey final

Barcelona will face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 19 after they drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad on Wednesday to progress 3-1 on aggregate. Lionel Messi continued his return to goalscoring form after netting twice against Sevilla on Sunday, with a fine solo run and finish to put Barca in front midway through the first-half. The hosts were then thankful to a number of saves from Enaut Zubikarai to prevent Barcelona extending their lead on the night, but the Basques got some recompense for their efforts three minutes from time when Antoine Griezmann thumped Chory Castro’s low cross past Jose Manuel Pinto. Barca boss Gerardo Martino showed he wasn’t prepared to rest on last week’s 2-0 win in the first leg at the Camp Nou as he named a strong side. The visitors managed to take the sting out of the game early on by dominating possession without overly threatening the Sociedad goal. However, after Zubikarai had parried a long-range effort from Dani Alves, the ‘keeper would have been disappointed to see Messi’s low strike squeeze under his outstretched arm and trundle into the net. Zubikarai quickly made amends, though, as he denied Pedro Rodriguez from close range. At the other end Carlos Vela had Sociedad’s best chance of the first half, but, after knocking the ball past Pinto, Dani Alves was on hand to clear off the line. Barcelona continued to look the more likely to score after the break as Andres Iniesta fired just wide from the edge of the area before Zubikarai made a brilliant double save to deny Messi and Cesc Fabregas. Sociedad did though have clearer sights of goal themselves in the second period and Vela was unlucky to see his sensational curling effort come back off the underside of the bar. Zubikarai came to Sociedad’s rescue again 15 minutes from time when he blocked Alves’s shot after the Brazilian had been played clean through on goal. And the ‘keeper’s heroics were rewarded with at least a draw on the night for his side when Griezmann finished off a fine team move involving Sergio Canales and Castro to register his 17th goal of the season.