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Barca score six but lose Vidal to horror injury

Xinhua, February 12, 2017 Adjust font size:

Luis Suarez, Neymar and Leo Messi all got on the scorecard as FC Barcelona enjoyed a crushing 6-0 win, including a spell of 4 goals in 8 minutes, over the Deportivo Alaves, who will be their rivals in the Spanish Kings Cup final at the end of May.

However, as much as the margin of victory, the game will be remembered for a horrible ankle injury suffered by Barca defender Aleix Vidal in the closing minutes of the game following a sliding challenge from Theo Hernandez.

Alaves were tight and organized until Barca opened the scoring, but fell apart in the second half as the efforts of their Cup run and some clinical finishing from Barca caught up with them.

Following their respective Cup semi-finals during the week and with Barca facing a key Champions League tie away to Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday, both sides made changes to their starting 11 with Lucas Digne and Jeremy Mathieu coming into the Barca 11, while Sergio Busquets also made his first start after injury.

The game began as expected with Barca enjoying most of the ball, but struggling to break down a well-drilled Alaves defense and midfield.

Messi went close after three minutes, while Vidal fired over shortly before Hernandez gave Barca a fright with a galloping run, which was only stopped by a fine stop from Ter Stegen.

The defender was at fault though when Barca took the lead in the 37th minute, allowing Vidal too much space on the wing and the Barca defender's low ball was stabbed home by the ever alert Suarez.

Three minutes later and a weak punch from Alaves keeper Fernando Pacheco saw the ball bounce off Suarez for Neymar to slip it into the empty net and make it 2-0.

Messi made it 3-0 on the hour after a defensive error and the floodgates opened with Alexis then scoring an own goal in the 62nd minute. Ivan Rakitic powered home a shot home to make it 5-0 three minutes later and Suarez netted his second of the game in the 67th minute.

Barca had scored four goals in eight minutes to assure the points, but what should have cause for celebration turned sour when Vidal appeared to suffer a broken ankle from Theo's sliding tackle. Endit