Intercity 3-4 Barcelona (after extra-time): Ansu Fati settles Copa thriller
The Catalans just about progressed from the round of 32 to the last 16
Barcelona narrowly avoided a cup catastrophe in Alicante thanks to Ansu Fati’s extra-time winner.
They hit an iceberg named Oriol Soldevila, who bagged a hat-trick against his former side to take the game to extra-time.
Ronald Araujo sent the Catalans ahead on his return from injury, but Soldevila pegged them back after the break.
In the second half Ousmane Dembele chipped home but again Solde was there, nodding home.
Raphinha decided to try and kill the game once and for all with a strike from Jordi Alba’s fine cross, but Soldevila capitalised on a Marcos Alonso stumble to level once more, driving past Inaki Pena.
Ansu Fati, on off the bench, eventually struck with an effort that deflected home in the first half of extra-time, but in 2023, when Barcelona are desperate for silverware, it was barely enough.
The defence looked shaky, Sergio Busquets was overrun in midfield and the likes of Ferran Torres and Memphis Depay were not clinical enough.
Dembele missed chances too, but at least managed to contribute a goal.
Xavi rested Robert Lewandowski and Pedri but in the end he wished they had played, as his team were taken to extra-time by the effervescent Soldevila.
However Ansu got a goal to boost his own confidence and put Barcelona into the Copa del Rey last 16.
