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Former Barcelona academy kid scores hat-trick against them in Copa del Rey

Already out of the Champions League, Barcelona's season almost took another turn for the worse on Wednesday when third-tier Intercity (founded 2017 in the Valencian Community) forced them into extra-time in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 with a 3-3 scoreline after 90 minutes.   

Barcelona's starting lineup was loaded with players who played extensively at the World Cup — Ousmane Dembélé, Ferran Torres, Memphis Depay, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Jules Koundé — but Intercity countered with 21-year-old Oriol Soldevila Puig, who'd played for Barça's youth teams before joining the club in the summer.

Intercity hosted the match, but given the status of the opponent, the team swapped its usual 2,500-seat stadium for the 30,000-seat Estadio José Rico Pérez in Alicante. A lot of spectators were certainly there to see Barça, and Ronald Araújo's opening goal in the fourth-minute foretold of a blowout. 

Soldevila, however, pulled Intercity level in the 59th before Dembélé restored Barça's lead in the 66th. Soldevila wouldn't be denied, and he got Intercity's equalizer in the 74th for a brace.

Only three minutes later, Raphinha made it 3-2 to Barcelona. 

But Soldevila drew Intercity level with just four minutes remaining for his hat-trick. Heading into the match, he'd managed one goal in 17 games in the Primera Federación (third division) this season. 

Barcelona's depth triumphed in extra-time with Ansu Fati, a 74th-minute substitute, working the winner in the 103rd minute.

Barça advances to the Round of 16 with the draw scheduled for Saturday.

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