MADRID Barcelona approach their King's Cup quarterfinal second leg against local rivals Espanyol on Wednesday (kickoff 2000 GMT) buoyed by their astonishing 7-0 demolition of Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

Llorenc Serra Ferrer's side take a 2-1 advantage into the match at the Nou Camp and must be favorites to make the last four of a competition they abandoned last year at the semifinal stage after claiming they did not have enough players available.

The Barcelona coach was at last given something to cheer about as his side inflicted the worst ever league defeat on the Basque club in its 102-year history.

"This result will mean that other teams will have much more respect for us in the future. The first half was spectacular, with our play bordering on perfection," he said after the game.

But last year's cup winners Espanyol are also in fine form, having put to one side the financial problems that have forced them to sell some of their leading players in recent weeks.

They have won their last three league games, scoring 10 goals in the process and have catapulted to eighth in the table.

In another attractive second leg tie Celta Vigo have the upper hand against Real Mallorca. They came from behind to win 3-1 in a bad-tempered first leg in Galicia.

(Reuter)