Barca ease through to Spanish Cup quarter-finals

An under-strength Barcelona side was still too good for Atletico Madrid as they inflicted a fourth successive defeat on their opponents with a 2-1 victory (5-2 on aggregate) and a place in the Spanish Cup quarter-finals.

An under-strength Barcelona side was still too good for Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as they inflicted a fourth successive defeat on their opponents with a 2-1 victory (5-2 on aggregate) and a place in the Spanish Cup quarter-finals.

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Barcelona who were without six first choice players such as Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi as Josep Guardiola opted to either rest them or put them on the bench scored through Bojan Krkic and Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Atletico had been briefly given some hope of overturning their 3-1 deficit from the first leg when Frenchman and former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle gave them the lead in the 24th minute.

Holders Valencia also progressed, but they were taken to extra-time by Racing Santander. However extra-time goals by Spanish duo Vicente his second of the match and Joaquin earned them their place in the last eight.

The final match of the round is on Thursday when Athletic Bilbao host Osasuna with the tie finely balanced at 1-1).