Villa passes 300 goals as Barca progress in Cup

Reuters: David Villa took his career goals tally to 301 when he netted twice as holders Barcelona eliminated third-tier Alaves 6-1 on aggregate to qualify for the last 16 of the King’s Cup on Wednesday.

The Spain striker clipped a sumptuous free kick into the top corner in the 56th minute at the Nou Camp and smashed home Cristian Tello’s unselfish layoff three minutes later as Barca came from behind to win the second leg 3-1 and set up a clash with second division Cordoba.

Coach Tito Vilanova took the chance to give some time on the pitch to players returning from injury and some promising youngsters and rested regulars including Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Victor Valdes.

After Barca had won last month’s first leg at Alaves 3-0, the Basque club took a surprise 17th-minute lead when Martin Montoya failed to cut out Miki’s cross from the right and Borja Viguera nodded past Jose Manuel Pinto.

Adriano levelled in the 35th minute when he exchanged passes with Thiago Alcantara and side-footed past Alaves goalkeeper Sergio Herrera before Villa struck twice after the break to kill off the tie.

The 30-year-old has gradually been getting back to something close to his best after breaking his leg at the Club World Cup last December and now has 40 goals for Barca since he joined from Valencia at the end of the 2009-10 Season.

“We knew we had the advantage but also that they would come out strongly and they pressured us until they got the goal,” Adriano said in an interview with Spanish TV. “But we continued to show the same seriousness and patience to get a positive result,” added the Brazilian.