Cartagena threatened to embarrass their illustrous hosts when Zurdo struck the post midway through the first-half. However, any hopes the visitors had of a famous victory were quashed when Pedro neatly swept home Martin Montoya&#39;s cross for his third goal of the tie. Without a host of regular starters, Barca struggled to create clear-cut openings all evening but they were gifted a second goal 23 minutes from time when Mariano Martinez turned Cristian Tello&#39;s cross into his own net. <img alt="Neymar" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/dec/neymar18dec.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 364px;" /> Neymar celebrates his goal. Pic/ AFP And Neymar rounded off the scoring with his sixth goal in his last three games when he headed home Andres Iniesta&#39;s cross three minutes from time. &quot;We played a well and were solid throughout out the game,&quot; said Barca boss Gerardo Martino. &quot;I think we handled the game well, with respect for both the opponent and the people that came to watch.&quot; Martino surprised many by playing Neymar for the full 90 minutes when many of his senior teammates were handed a rest. However, the Argentine said the 21-year-old will return to Brazil on Thursday for 10 days holiday as he is suspended for Sunday&#39;s final game before the winter break away to Getafe. &quot;He won&#39;t play on Sunday so tonight was an opportunity to give him the 90 minutes. &quot;He&#39;s going to Brazil on Thursday. He hasn&#39;t had a break since the Confederations Cup so it is good to give him a few extra days.&quot; And Martino also confirmed that he expects the injured Lionel Messi and Victor Valdes to be back training in Barcelona along with Neymar on January 2. &quot;During the two training sessions on the second we hope to have all the players back together, including those that are continuing to recover like Leo and Victor.&quot; Barca will also face Getafe in the last 16 after the Madrid side thrashed Girona 4-1 to secure their place in the next round by the same score on aggregate. Osasuna, fresh from their 2-2 draw against Real Madrid on Saturday, will face Los Blancos again in January should Madrid overcome Olimpic Xativa on Wednesday as the Navarrans progressed on away goals after a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga on Tuesday. Levante hammered Recreativo Huelva 4-0 to also progress 4-1 on aggregate, but the upset of the evening came from second division Alcorcon who overcame a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Granada 5-4 on penalties.

La Liga leaders Barcelona comfortably secured their place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win over third-tier Cartagena on Tuesday, to seal a 7-1 win on aggregate

Barcelona cruise into Copa del Rey last 16

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Barcelona cruise into Copa del Rey last 16

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