Athletic Bilbao 3-2 Barcelona (aet): Pain as Xavi's side slain in Copa thriller

Athletic Bilbao 3-2 Barcelona (aet): Pain as Xavi's side slain in Copa thriller

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Pedri's last gasp strike forced extra-time but then he and Ansu went off injured

It proved a disastrous night for Barcelona in the end at the San Mames, and not just because they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey.

Pedri’s last gasp strike forced extra-time but the joy quickly soured when Ansu Fati and then the Canarian midfielder himself were taken off injured.

Then when Jordi Alba handled the ball and Iker Muniain slotted the penalty in the 106th minute, it proved all for nothing. Barcelona left Bilbao bruised and battered.

Xavi’s side suffered in the first half, from the word go. Alba was destroyed by Nico Williams and his cross found Muniain at the back post. The playmaker curved a delightful effort into the top corner, over Ter Stegen.

The German goalkeeper could do nothing about it but made some smart saves in the first half as the hosts dominated.

However the teams went in level at the break thanks to Ferran Torres’s brilliant equaliser, another spectacular curling effort, against the run of play.

Barcelona improved with Nico Gonzalez and Ansu Fati on the pitch after the break, but Athletic still posed plenty of problems.

Inigo Martinez bundled them ahead from a yard out after the ball fell to him and he beat Gerard Pique to it.

However Pedri smashed home after Dani Alves’s improvised overhead kick assist found him on the edge of the box, and we were into extra-time.

But in the end, it cost Barcelona more than it gained them.

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