Pep Guardiola showed Hospitalet no mercy as the Barcelona coach fielded a full-strength side that demolished the third-tier team 9-0 to reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey Thursday. While Lionel Messi was missing from the Club World Cup champion's starting lineup, the Argentina forward's absence made little difference as Barcelona raced into a 5-0 lead by halftime before netting four more goals after the break to win 10-0 on aggregate. Guardiola left nothing to chance after four topflight clubs were eliminated in the fourth round Wednesday. But his decision to field many of his Spain internationals proved costly as Andres Iniesta injured his right thigh, and Cesc Fabregas also appeared to be hurt in the second half. Only four days on from its 4-0 rout of Santos in Japan, Messi was among the handful of regulars rested but Guardiola still opted to include Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Thiago Alcantara, Fabregas, and Iniesta as his team delivered the biggest victory of his coaching career. Emerging talents like Isaac Cuenca showed just how deep Barcelona's bench is as the speedy winger won two penalties, including Pedro Rodriguez's 11th-minute opener. Xavi then threaded through to Fabregas, who crossed into the area for Iniesta to tap into the empty goal in the 19th minute. Guardiola celebrated, but he soon wrapped his hands around his head in worry after Iniesta tangled with goalkeeper Carlos Craviotto. The midfield playmaker came off after half an hour with the injury that will sideline him at least two weeks. Thiago scored the first of two goals in the 23rd before Xavi converted Fabregas' lob from inside the area. Guardiola took no risks with the FIFA Golden Ball candidate after that as he substituted Xavi for 20-year-old Cristian Tello in the 39th, and the B-team player had an immediate impact as he scored the first of two goals four minutes after coming on. Cuenca scored in the 49th before provoking a penalty that Thiago converted in the 54th, and the 20-year-old winger capped the emphatic victory by firing a high shot over Craviatto after Tello had notched his second from an individual effort. Earlier, Valencia thumped third division side Cadiz 4-0 to advance by the same aggregate scoreline after a scoreless first leg.
