Barça make history at deserted Mestalla

Barcelona confirmed their place in this season's Copa del Rey final after playing out a 1-1 draw with Valencia in Wednesday night's semi-final second leg at Mestalla. A late goal from Wilfrid Kaptoum also saw Luis Enriques team enter the Catalan club's history books as the Mestalla draw sees his side create a new club record of 29 games unbeaten, breaking the previous record which dated back to the 2010/11 season.  

Against a surreal backdrop of an almost empty Mestalla, the large majority of the Valencia faithful deciding to support the social media campaign and boycot the game. The Curva Nord area, usually the most raucous and populated area of Mestalla was inhabited by 12 (twelve) fans with the club declining to give an official match attendance figure.

On the pitch, the game had the hallmarks of a pre-season friendly match with little or no intensity being displayed by either side, the 7-0 Barça win at Camp Nou ending the contest as both Luis Enrique and under-pressure Valencia coach, Gary Neville used the game as an opportunity to try-out youth team players.

Álvaro Negredo opened the scoring for Valencia late in the first half, rounding Barça keeper Ter Stegen and being the recipient of a fortunate ricochet from the German keeper to finish into an empty net.

Barcelona face Sevilla or Celta Vigo in the Copa final, with the Andalusians 4-0 up going into Thursday's second leg at Balaídos.