BREAKING: Ferran Torres hat-trick fires Barcelona into Copa del Rey semi-finals

Barcelona stormed into the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a dominant 5-0 victory over Valencia on Thursday, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Ferran Torres.

Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal also found the net as the Catalan giants cruised past their struggling opponents at the Mestalla.

The win keeps Barca’s hopes of silverware alive, joining Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Real Sociedad in a competitive final four.

Torres Shines as Barcelona Run Riot

With coach Hansi Flick opting to rest Robert Lewandowski, Torres seized the opportunity to shine. The former Valencia forward struck in just the third minute, finishing a perfect pass from Alejandro Balde. He doubled his tally 14 minutes later, pouncing on a rebound from a Yamal shot that hit the post.

Midway through the first half, Pedri set up Lopez, who rounded the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. Torres then completed his hat-trick with a precise low strike after a clever assist from Raphinha.

The 23-year-old’s stellar performance highlighted Barcelona’s attacking prowess without Lewandowski, as they have now scored at least five goals in their last four matches when the Polish striker was absent.

Valencia Fans Frustrated Amid Relegation Fears

Valencia, currently 19th in La Liga, endured another humiliating defeat after their 7-1 thrashing by Barcelona just two weeks ago. Disgruntled fans left the stadium early in protest against owner Peter Lim, with chants calling for change.

Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq briefly gave Valencia hope when he found the net early in the second half, but the goal was ruled offside. He then won a penalty, only for VAR to rule him offside again.

Yamal, who had already hit the post earlier, finally got on the scoresheet with a low shot that deflected past the Valencia goalkeeper to cap off the emphatic win.

After the game, Torres expressed his concern for his former club.
“I hope Valencia survive because this is my childhood club,” he said. “It’s painful to see them struggle like this.”

Real Sociedad Also Advance

In another quarter-final match, Real Sociedad secured a 2-0 win over 10-man Osasuna. Goals from Ander Barrenetxea and Brais Méndez sealed their place in the semis, with Osasuna’s Alejandro Catena receiving a red card in the first half, killing any hopes of a comeback.

With the semi-final lineup now complete, Barcelona will be aiming to add another Copa del Rey title to their record 31 triumphs.