Madrid, February 1:

Thierry Henry’s 41st-minute goal led FC Barcelona past Villarreal 1-0 and into the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Thursday.

Henry found himself alone to powerfully head in Deco’s free kick for the only goal of the quarter-final tie. Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez saved Lionel Messi’s penalty shot in the 77th.

Earlier, Racing Santander drew Athletic Bilbao 3-3 to advance to its first-ever semi-finals. Aldo Pedro Duscher, Mohammed Tchite and Oscar Serrano scored to hand Racing a 5-3 aggregate win.

At the San Mames, Racing arrived with a 2-0 first-leg lead but saw the momentum turn swiftly when Athletic evened the tie from first-half goals by Fernando Amorebieta in the 19th and Inaki Munoz from the penalty spot seven minutes later.

Duscher one-timed Serrano’s pass from the left in the 54th but Markel Susaeta answered for Athletic two minutes later. Tchite clinched it with a short volley in the 73rd before Serrano scored the last for Racing.