Football: Tello hat-trick puts Barca on brink of Cup semis
Barcelona beat Levante 4-1 to reach to move towards the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance for Barcelona by setting up three goals for Cristian Tello as the Catalans moved towards the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 4-1 win away to Levante on Wednesday.
Nabil El Zhar had fired the hosts into a shock lead midway through the first-half.
However, after an unfortunate Juanfran own goal had levelled matters just after half-time, Tello then sped onto Messi s through ball to fire home on the hour mark.
The two combined once more 10 minutes from time and another lovely Messi pass allowed the 22-year-old to volley home his hat-trick five minutes later to leave the second-leg at the Camp Nou next Wednesday a formality.
Barca boss Gerardo Martino had made eight changes to the side that could only manage a 1-1 draw with Levante in La Liga on Sunday with Pedro Rodriguez and Xavi joining Messi as the only three players to retain their place.
And Pedro nearly repaid Martino s faith immediately as he struck the base of the post after only five minutes.
However, just as at the weekend, it was Levante who took the lead from a set-piece as El Zhar prodded home from close range after Jose Manuel Pinto had parried his first effort.
Barca were handed a huge slice of luck to equalise eight minutes after half-time when Loukas Vyntra fired the ball off teammate Juanfran and the ball rebounded past the helpless Javi Jimenez into the net.
Thereafter, though, it was a procession as Tello thundered home his first moments later from Messi s first assist.
The winger then curled home his second of the evening after the defence had again been attracted towards Messi.
And Tello sealed a memorable evening five minutes later with a another thumping finish from Messi s clipped ball over the top.
Barca will most likely face Real Sociedad in the last four after they beat third-tier side Racing Santander 3-1 at home in their quarter-final, first-leg.
