FC Barcelona has been knocked out of Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao as Real Madrid edge past Elche. Ferran Torres scored his first Barcelona goal after moving to the club from Manchester City early this month.
Barcelona suffered a 3-2 defeat in extra-time at Athletic Bilbao in the last 16 on Thursday night. Athletic went ahead early thanks to a beautiful cross-shot from Iker Muniain who curled the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen into the top corner.
The former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres equalized for Barcelona with a brilliant right-foot strike from the edge of the area being his first goal for the club. Inigo Martinez put Athletic back in front after 86 minutes, winning a challenge against Gerard Pique to score, but Pedri scored a fine goal in stoppage time that send the match into extra time.
Pedri celebrating his goal during Barcelonas 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao.Photo courtesy: Getty Images
Man-of-the-match Muniain scored the winner from the penalty spot after the video assistant referee spotted a handball from Jordi Alba inside the area. Barcelona players look dejected as Athletic Club celebrate Last year’s Copa del Rey finalists met at the round of 16 stages on Thursday night.
Barcelona exited the competition after a thrilling 3-2 extra-time defeat to avengers Athletic Bilbao. Xavi’s side twice came from behind in normal time – courtesy of goals from Ferran Torres and Pedri in either half – but was eventually put to bed by a penalty from Iker Muniain.
The teams played days after returning to Spain, following mutual disappointment in the Saudi Arabia-based Supercopa tournament in which Real Madrid came out triumphant. In what was a blistering start for the hosts, the deadlock was broken in less than two minutes. Nico Williams, causing Jordi Alba all sorts of problems, embarked on a surging run down the right flank before finding Muniain, who produced a moment of magic to open the scoring.
With Williams’ pull-back, the Athletic Club captain set himself on the left side of the penalty area, before somehow getting a perfect combination of whip and curl to loft the ball over Marc-Andre ter Stegen into the far corner. Xavi’s men reacted well to the setback, however, and gradually found their feet in the tie, notching an equalizer past 20 minutes. Torres got his first goal in Barcelona colours, bending the ball sumptuously into the far corner after receiving Sergio Busquets’ pass into the area.
Barcelona would have drawn level but, in the true spirit of a cup tie, momentum then switched again. Muniain, Oscar De Marcos, Williams, Oihan Sancet and Raul Garcia all should have found the net before the referee blew for half-time despite a combination of sluggish finishing and solid goalkeeping saved the visiting side as the game reached its midway point.
Iker Muniain penalty in extra-time sealed a 3-2 win for Athletic Bilbao.Photo courtesy: Getty Images
However, the Blaugrana were once again pegged back just before the halfway point in the additional period, when the referee adjudged Alba to have handled Williams’ – the younger one – cross following a review on the pitch-side monitor. Stepping up to take the penalty, Muniain made no mistake in making it 3-2 to the hosts.
Barcelona had one glimmer of hope, although Torres’ clinical finish was pulled back as the linesman’s incredibly late raised flag spoiled the away fans’ joy. The visitors were unable to break down Bilbao’s brick wall of a backline as the match neared its conclusion, eventually succumbing to a Copa del Rey dumping.
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