Sloppy Barca held to 2-2 Cup draw by 10-man Malaga

Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi poses with his four Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) trophies before their Spanish King's Cup soccer match against Malaga at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona January 16, 2013.?Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi poses with his four Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) trophies before their Spanish King's Cup soccer match against Malaga at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona January 16, 2013.??[Photo/Agencies]

MADRID - Holders Barcelona squandered a chance to all but seal a probable King's Cup semi-final showdown with Real Madrid when they conceded a late goal to draw 2-2 at home to 10-man Malaga in their last-eight first leg on Wednesday.

Barca beat Malaga 3-1 in La Liga on Sunday and coach Tito Vilanova and his Malaga counterpart Manuel Pellegrini both fielded weakened sides for the Cup game three days later at the Nou Camp.

After withstanding a barrage of Barca attacks, Malaga drew first blood in the 25th minute when Thiago Alcantara dithered just outside his penalty area. He was dispossessed by Manuel Iturra who slotted past the stranded Jose Manuel Pinto.

Barca's reaction was swift and another defensive lapse gifted them an equaliser three minutes later.

Lionel Messi, who showed off his four FIFA Ballon d'Or awards to the home fans before kickoff, robbed Weligton on the right and sped into the area before curling a low shot beyond Carlos Kameni.

Barca had the lead a minute later when Carles Puyol stooped to meet Alcantara's corner and sent a looping header over Kameni and in off a post.

Malaga looked to be in serious trouble when Ignacio Monreal picked up a straight red card for felling Pedro when he was through on goal with 15 minutes left.

However, Barca failed to make their numerical advantage count and Ignacio Camacho was left unmarked at the far post to clip in a 90th-minute equaliser.

Coming at the end of one of the sloppiest Barca performances of the season, the goal gives Malaga hope for next week's return leg at their Rosaleda stadium on the south coast.

Real are the likely opponents in the last four after Jose Mourinho's side beat Valencia 2-0 at the Bernabeu in their first leg on Tuesday.

New Sevilla coach Unai Emery, appointed this week to replace the sacked Michel, had a disappointing debut when the Andalusian club were held to a 0-0 draw at Real Zaragoza.

The winners of the quarter-final tie will meet Atletico Madrid or Real Betis, who play their first leg at Atletico's Calderon stadium on Thursday, in the last four.