FC Barcelona all but assured their place in the final of the Copa de Rey this Wednesday with a 5-0 win over Almeria at the Camp Nou stadium in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

It is the ninth time Barcelona have scored five goals or more this season.

The game was all but over as a contest after half an hour when Pedro Rodriguez headed home Barcelona's fourth goal of the night from a corner kick.

By then his side had already scored three times, thanks to two goals from the unstoppable Leo Messi and a further strike from David Villa.

Barca had previously won their BBVA Primera Liga match 8-0 in Almeria, but with Almeria improving under coach Jose Luis Oltra, nobody was expecting a repeat performance in Barcelona.

However, Barca enjoyed several chances before Messi opened the scoring after nine minutes and Villa doubled the lead a minute later.

Messi's second of the night made it 3-0 after 15 minutes and Pedro's header capped another magnificent first half from the Catalans.

The second half proved to be an anti-climax as Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola ensured his players reserved their strength ahead of their weekend trip to play Hercules. Messi was taken off early in the half.

It wasn't until the 89th minute that Seydou Keita scored Barcelona's fifth of the night. A goal that merely confirms that the reigning league champions and BBVA Primera Liga leaders are all but certain to play in the cup final.

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