Luis Suarez had the Barcelona fans chanting his name after he set up Lionel Messi to score the opening goal in a 3-1 victory for the record winners in their King’s Cup semifinal, first leg at home to Villarreal on Wednesday.
.
Uruguay forward Suarez won possession in the Villarreal half in the 41st minute at the Nou Camp before laying a perfect pass into Messi’s path for the Argentina captain to sweep a first-time shot past keeper Sergio Asenjo.
.
Barca squandered a series of chances before Villarreal levelled three minutes into the second period after home keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen let a long-range Manuel Trigueros shot straight through his hands.
.
Andres Iniesta put Barca back in front a minute later when he fired a loose ball low into the net and Gerard Piquemade it 3-1 in the 64th minute with a header from a Messi corner.
.
Messi would normally have taken the spot-kick when Barca were awarded a penalty for a Mateo Musacchio handball in the 70th minute but after he stepped aside to allow Neymar a chance the Brazil captain had his effort well saved by Asenjo.
.
Suarez won more appreciation from the home support in stoppage time when he almost caught Asenjo off his line with a lobbed shot from near the halfway line but the ball drifted narrowly wide with the keeper beaten.
.
“It was a good win but it could have been better,” Pique said in an interview with Spanish television broadcasterCanal Plus.
.
“We know the Madrigal is a tough stadium to play at and we still have to win the tie,” added the Spaininternational. “We are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment and that means we can react quickly when we concede.”
.
Barca’s 10th consecutive success in all competitions, their longest winning streak since the end of 2010, put them in a strong position to advance to May’s final after the return in three weeks.
.
Athletic Bilbao, whose 23 Cup triumphs are only bettered by Barca’s 26, host 2006 winners Espanyol in the other semifinal, first leg later on Wednesday.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate