Story highlights
Barcelona win 2-1 at Osasuna to secure a place in the Spanish Cup quarterfinals
Thursday's victory seals a 6-1 aggregate win for last season's losing finalists
Barca will now face arch-rivals Real Madrid in a repeat of the 2011 title match
Napoli defeat Cesena 2-1 to clinch a place in the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup
Barcelona came from behind to beat Osasuna 2-1 in the Spanish Cup on Thursday to secure a mouth-watering quarterfinal El Clasico clash with arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola’s side held a 4-0 lead from the first leg at the Nou Camp, but fell behind to Dejan Lekic’s goal five minutes before halftime on a foggy night in Pamplona.
Alexis Sanchez headed the visitors level early in the second half and three-times Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi came off the substitutes’ bench to set up Sergi Roberto for the clinching goal in the 71st minute.
What makes Barca’s Messi and Guardiola the world’s best?
It means the two giants of Spanish football will now face each other in a repeat of last year’s final, which Real Madrid won.
Jose Mourinho’s Madrid team host Barca next Wednesday in the first leg, while the return match will be at the Nou Camp on Wednesday January 25.
Thursday’s other cup match saw Athletic Bilbao thump third division Albacete 4-0 with goals from Markel Susaeta (24), Ander Herrero (64), Gaizka Toquero (77) and Mikel San Jose (86).
Athletic face Real Mallorca in the last eight, while the other two matches will see Valencia play Levante in another all-La Liga clash and third division Mirandes take on top-flight Espanyol.
Meanwhile, goals from strikers Edinson Cavani and Goran Pandev helped Napoli come from behind to beat Cesena 2-1 in the Italian Cup, earning a quarterfinal trip to Inter Milan or Genoa.
