Sevilla produced a brilliant second-half display to beat F.C. Barcelona 2-0 in their Copa del Rey quarter-final, first leg on Wednesday (Jan 23), leaving the holders with an uphill task to reach the last four.
After an even first 45 minutes, strikes from Pablo Sarabia and Wissam Ben Yedder stunned the Catalans and left them needing a second-leg comeback at the Nou Camp for the second consecutive round in the competition.
A much-changed Barca, who earlier in the day announced the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax Amsterdam, handed a debut to loan signing Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Yet star forward Lionel Messi was left at home while forward Luis Suarez and club-record signing Philippe Coutinho were only named on the bench as they struggled.
The second leg takes place next Wednesday, while Espanyol take on Real Betis and Real Madrid host Girona on Thursday in the remaining quarter-final, first legs after Getafe defeated Valencia 1-0 on Tuesday.
