Barcelona reach yet another Spanish cup final

Feb 8, 2012, 21:59 GMT

Madrid - Barcelona cruised into the final of the Spanish cup on Wednesday with a 2-0 home defeat of Valencia, with Spain midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Xavi scoring the goals.

The first leg in Valencia was a 1-1 draw, so Barca go into the final on a comfortable 3-1 aggregate.

In the final, to be played on May 25, Barca will face Athletic Bilbao, who ovecame third division Mirandes on an impressive 8-3 aggregate in the other semi-final.

It will be the third King's Cup in four season's for Pep Guardiola's Barca. In 2009, they thrashed Bilbao 4-1 in the final. Last season, they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in extra-time.

Barca eliminated Real in the quarter-finals this season.

Valencia made an energetic start in the Camp Nou but fell behind in the 17th minute when FIFA World Player Messi set up Fabregas with a defence-splitting ball. The former Arsenal captain calmly made it 1-0 with a perfect lob over Valencia keeper Diego Alves.

13 minutes from time, Valencia were reduced to 10 men, when youngster Sofiane Feghouli was sent off for an ugly foul on Barca captain Carles Puyol.

Four minutes later, Xavi settled the tie by making it 2-0, finishing off an exquisite move between Alexis Sanchez and Fabregas.

The pleasant win will help to restore morale in Barcelona despite Real Madrid being seven points ahead in La Liga, and despite a debilitating injury crisis.