Copa del Rey: Barcelona advance but could be disqualified

MADRID (AP) – Barcelona won a place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Thursday, but their participation in the tournament is still under threat.

Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele led Barcelona to a comfortable 3-0 win against Levante at Camp Nou Stadium, allowing them to progress 4-2 overall. However, the Catalan club could be disqualified for allegedly using a player suspended in the first leg.

Levante said that he would make an official complaint to the Spanish Football Federation on Friday before the draw for the quarter-finals.

The four-time defending Copa champion denied any reprehensible behavior for using young player Juan "Chumi" Brandariz in last week's match in Valencia.

Levante said that Chumi should not have been playing because of an accumulation of yellow cards with the Barcelona "B" team, arguing that his suspension also applied to him. senior team, including Copa matches.

The Spanish federation should decide on Levante's complaint before the draw on Friday.

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Real Madrid was eliminated in the tournament's round of 32 in 2015 for using forward Denis Cheryshev while he was suspended.

After Messi's return to training after his first-leg rest, Barcelona easily reversed the 2-1 deficit since the first match. The Argentinian playmaker scored Ousmane Dembele's goals in the 30th and 31st minutes, then sealed the win by scoring in the 54th minute.

Barcelona has at least reached the quarter-finals of the Copa in nine consecutive seasons. He has won the title five times in the last seven years.

Earlier Thursday, Espanyol had beaten Villarreal 3-1 at home with two goals from striker Borja Iglesias to total a 5-3 lead, while Real Betis saved a 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad to score the last eight goals away after 0 – 0 draw in the first round.

Real Madrid, Girona, Valencia, Getafe and Sevilla have also qualified for the quarter-finals.