Athletic Bilbao Beat Barcelona FC 4-2 in the quarter-finals of Copa Del Rey. Barcelona is out from Copa Del Rey and Athletic Club Reached the competition’s semi-finals. It was another tough blow for Barcelona, which was looking to make it to the Copa semifinals for the second straight season. The Catalan club earlier this year had already missed another chance to win a title when it lost 4-1 to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. 90 minutes of this match ended with a 2-2 score line.
The home side’s winner in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half of extra-time scored by substitute Iñaki Williams and they scored another goal in Stoppage time at the end of the second half of extra time by Nico Williams. This is a heartbreaking loss for Barcelona they last won the Copa Del Rey in the 2020-2021 season.
Barcelona Starting Eleven
Xavi picked a starting eleven in which Iñaki Pena is the first-choice Goalkeeper. Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen are playing the center-back position. Alejandro Balde plays as the left-side back and Jules Koundé plays in right right-side back position. Frenkie de Jong is in the Defensive midfielder role. İlkay Gündoğan and Pedri playing in mid-field. Lamine Yamal plays as Right Wing Forward and Ferran Torres plays as Left-wing forward. Robert Lewandowski playing in the center-forward position. Xavi started with the traditional 4-3-3 Formation.
Athletic Bilbao starting eleven
Ernesto Valverde Pick a Starting eleven of Julen Agirrezabala is in a goal. Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes play in the center-back position. Iñigo Lekue is on the right and Yuri Berchiche is in the left side-back position. Beñat Prados and Mikel Vesga are in the Center- midfield role. Malcom Abdulai Ares Djaló is in the Right-side midfield position and Nico Williams is in the left side midfield position. Oihan Sancet is playing as a Center-Attacking Midfielder. Gorka Guruzeta Rodríguez playing in the Center Forward position. Ernesto Valverde Selected a 4-2-3-1 Formation in this match.
Athletic Bilbao Beat Barcelona FC 4-2 in the quarter finals, Barcelona is out from Copa Del Rey
First Half
Athletic Bilbao host Barcelona FC in San Mames stadium. Christensen makes returns in starting eleven for Barcelona. In 1st minute of the game, Barcelona’s sloppy play cost them the host capitalize and attack from the left before sending a ball into the box. Oihan Sancet did not collect the ball properly but the ball fell kindly for Gorka Guruzeta who swept the ball into the roof of the net.
In the 23rd minute, Alejandro Balde had a hamstring injury Xavi replaced him with Hector Fort. In the 26th minute, Christensen played a long pass to Ferran Torres who played a beautiful pass to Pedri who tried to score but he disposed of the ball Defense Tried to clear it but the ball Struck R.Lewandowski and went in the net It’s a Weird goal. Barcelona is back in level. In the 32nd minute, Lamine Yamal goes on a sensational solo run he cuts inside on his favorite left foot and fires a curling shot in the bottom corner of the net. Barcelona takes a 2-1 lead. The first half ended with a 2-1 scoreline.
Second Half
Early in the second half, Nico Williams put a cross into the box, but Catalan’s keeper Iñaki Pena did not come out to claim it and Oihan Sancet was free and headed the ball into the net Athletic Bilbao scored an equalizer. After that Home side wasted plenty of chances to go ahead in the scoreline. In the 86th minute, Lamine Yamal intercepted the ball from Parades and went towards the goal he almost rounded the keeper, but he blasted his shot over the bar. The second half ended in a 2-2 scoreline in San Mames Stadium
Extra Time First-Half
Barcelona had more ball possession, but they were not as threatening as Athletic Bilbao. In the final third Barcelona lost position and Athletic Bilbao had a chance to counter. In stoppage time, Asier Villalibre’s pass is deflected onto the path of Iñaki Williams, who initially hits the post but taps home his rebound.
🚨🚨| GOAL: BARCA ARE OUT OF THE COPA DEL REY
Athletic Club 4-2 FC Barcelona
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) January 24, 2024
Extra Time Second- Half
Barcelona was desperately looking for Equalizers and Athletic Bilbao’s Defensive unit was under pressure. Barcelona is not making any clear-cut chances for their forward line they were maintaining possession in the final third of the opponent’s half. In stoppage time of the second half extra time, Barcelona lost the ball, and the home side had a chance to go on the counterattack, Nico Williams Scored a goal from his right foot curler, and the match ended with a 4-2 scoreline. Athletic Bilbao Advanced into the Semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey.