Barcelona lost 4-2 on the road in the quarterfinals to Athletic Bilbao after extra time on Wednesday, their second heartbreaking cup loss in as many weeks.

After 90 minutes, the score was tied at 2-2. In the extra time, goals from Iñaki and Nico Williams gave Bilbao the victory. Considering that Iñaki Williams had only returned from the Ivory Coast the day before the match, he accomplished an incredible turnaround. 

He was a member of the Ghana side that was eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday following a draw with Mozambique. On Wednesday morning, he returned to Spain in order to rejoin his colleagues from Bilbao for the cup match. Barça suffered yet another devastating defeat; in addition to losing the Spanish Super Cup to archrival Real Madrid earlier this month, the Blaugrana are currently eight points behind leaders in La Liga. Nevertheless, in February, they will play Napoli in the UEFA Champions League.

After the game, Barcelona manager Xavi stated, “I feel disappointed because a title has gone and, in that fashion, too, losing in extra time.” However, I’m happy of the young guys because they played a wonderful game. The location was quite challenging because Athletic is the most physically demanding club in the league.

With pressure from the hosts, Barça failed to clear the ball inside the box and fell behind after only 35 seconds when Gorka Guruzeta volleyed home following a rebound. It was the worst start to the game for the team. In the 25th minute, the Blaugrana were able to equalise matters thanks to a stroke of luck. Robert Lewandowski rushed down Yuri Berchiche’s clearing, causing the ball to bounce off the Polish striker and into the net. But the second goal for the visitors was anything but fortunate. Lamine Yamal, a teenage rising star, received the ball on the right flank, cut to the outside of the penalty box, and scored with a lovely left-footed goal.

The 16-year-old became the youngest player to score in the Copa del Rey this century in the process, setting a Copa record. After the break, Oihan Sancet headed in a cross from Nico Williams to give Bilbao an equaliser. After exchanging opportunities for the remainder of normal time, neither team was able to gain the upper hand, forcing extra time.

Just before the first half of extra time expired, Athletic scored a huge goal through Iñaki Williams, who grabbed onto a through pass and sent a shot against the post. However, luck was with him this time as the ball bounced right into the forward’s path for a tap-in. Just before the final siren, his younger brother Nico sealed the victory for the Lehoiak by scoring with the outside of his right boot.

A Surprise for the league leaders

Girona, which is playing in just its fourth season of La Liga football, has emerged as this season’s surprise package in Spanish football. The team is putting up the most unlikely championship threats. However, after losing 3-2 against Mallorca on Wednesday, the Blanquivermells will not have the opportunity to win both the league and the cup. 

Mallorca surprised the league leaders by storming into a 3-0 lead at home in the first half of the match. Mallorca is currently 14 places and more than 30 points behind Girona in La Liga. When Mallorca captain Antonio Raíllo was sent off and Cristhian Stuani scored a penalty to bring a goal back, Girona had a chance to get back into the game, but the 10-man home team held strong. In the sixth minute of injury time, Brazilian striker Sávio tied the score at three, but it was too little, too late for the visiting team, which is now focused only on the league.

Barcelona knocked out of Copa del Rey as Athletic hit extra-time double

Athletic Bilbao eliminated Barcelona from the Copa del Rey today with a 4-2 victory at home thanks to goals from brothers Inaki and Nico Williams in an incredible quarterfinal. Gorka Guruzeta’s rebound goal gave the hosts an early lead in the opening minute, but Barca responded with two goals in five minutes before halftime. Yuri Berchiche of Athletic attempted to clear the ball from his own six-yard box in the 27th minute, but it cannoned off Robert Lewandowski and into the empty net. Then, Lamine Yamal had a moment of brilliance as he bounded past three defenders to the outside of the box, where he cut inside and skilfully placed a strike just inside the far post.

But Athletic rallied after the interval, tying the score in the 49th minute by a powerful header from Oihan Sancet after Nico Williams’ excellent cross from the left. As Athletic pressed for a third, 16-year-old Yamal wasted two clear-cut opportunities from close range as the deft Nico Williams caused constant problems for Barca’s defence. Athletic converted their dominance into goals in the extra period. Two minutes into additional time before halftime, Nico Williams won the victory with a beautiful curling goal into the top corner, while Inaki Williams first scored a rebound from his own close-range strike that rebounded back off the post.

Inaki Williams told TVE, “Not even in my wildest dreams had I envisioned this happening. I have just come from the Ivory Coast, where I participated in the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana.” Today went smoothly without any issues. After Ghana’s elimination, which was a really devastating blow, I couldn’t have imagined being here yesterday. I must express my gratitude to the supporters for their warm welcome and the club for making it possible for me to get here as soon as possible. In the semi-finals, Athletic will play Real Sociedad, Mallorca, and the victor of Atletico Madrid vs. Sevilla on Thursday.

Tuesday saw Real Sociedad defeat Celta Vigo 2-1, while earlier on Wednesday Mallorca surprised La Liga leaders Girona by defeating them 3-2. After a faltering season, Xavi Hernandez, the manager of Barcelona, will not be helped by the defeat. With 44 points, Barca is third in the La Liga standings, eight points behind leaders Girona and seven behind leaders Real Madrid in second place. Xavi said to TVE, “I am calm, the most important championships remain,” alluding to La Liga and the Champions League, in which Barca will face Napoli in the round of sixteen. We gave it our best shot, and I believe we played well against a fantastic squad that plays well at home. I said we were unfortunate in the draw.