Athletic gives the bell in the discount to sink a Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey

  • Iñaki Williams combed a ball when everything was going towards extra time
  • Before, few occasions and a Savior Unai before Griezmann and Messi
  • Barça de Setién hits bottom falling without its second title option
Photo: Reuters

This Copa del Rey has magic. But they tell the Athletic Bilbao who copied Granada, Mirandés and Real Sociedad to eliminate Barcelona (1-0). In addition, he did it at the last moment with a header from Iñaki Williams that further enlarges the culé crisis. They dominated those of Quique Setién, but without depth and delivered to the flashes of Messi they ended up paying dearly for their failures before an Unai Simón that was consecrated in San Mamés.

There are already semifinals, which this Friday will know their crosses and who fight for the title in La Cartuja. All after the final finish of Athletic Bilbao at Barça. Auction for being the fourth team that gives the surprise, auction for the situation of a culé box that has mounted a circus and the dwarfs do not stop growing and auction for Williams's hairstyle when everything pointed to the extension to put San Mamés on foot . As it happened in LaLiga, where the Basques also won a bit at the end, that time of Aduriz, a rough match ends up on the side of a winning Garitano like nobody else.

Because Bilbao knew that this Barcelona did not arrive at its best and that is why it took out its entire arsenal. Such an opportunity cannot be missed and by copying the LaLiga approach, it was locked in its area without leaving spaces for the Blaugrana group. That is why the five defenses with Yeray, Íñigo Martínez and Unai Núñez colossal.

Only Ansu Fati disturbed Unai Simon's goal in the first part. His two shots before reaching the first quarter of an hour, with the second taking Unai Núñez under sticks. The rest Blaugrana, little thing removing a Messi who tried again and again crashing into the Basque wall to the point of ending up deranged and with a yellow for an ugly foul.

On the other hand, Athletic had it only in an arrival of Raúl García, of those that the midfielder always has taking advantage of the slightest rival carelessness. However, the clearest was one of Williams that only the VAR annulled when San Mamés already celebrated the first goal after a corner kick.

Griezmann and Messi had the chances before the Basque climax

In the second part, Setién moved the bench and gave entry to a Griezmann who had been a substitute by surprise. He removed Ansu Fati to try to protect a Sergi Roberto from a false end against Semedo's yellow alert and the Frenchman had the best when he touched the 70th minute. Rakitic also removed, for Arthur's entry, Roberto came by band, He put her back and Griezmann crashed into Unai's legs.

However, the scoreboard did not move and everything remained the same. With a good Athletic together in which Garitano gave entry to San José and Aduriz through Vesga and Muniain. In those, Piqué had to leave injured by a race with Williams where the striker completely swept him and the '9' Biscay had one more for his with a high shot against a Ter Stegen without work throughout the match.

The crash was approaching its final stretch and any detail could change it. Messi had it first, in a hand in hand with Unai after a spectacular pass from Athur, but the Argentine in those who in good times would have gone inside failed when the decisive goal was sung. Also Williams in a center before 90 who did not finish well. But the striker would still have one left, when everything was ready to go to extra time.

Ibai, who had just entered looking at overtime, faced Jordi Alba, abated him and put a measured center in the heart of the area where the '9' appeared against all odds and on Busquets to close ranks. A shot, or rather a hairstyle, which Ter Stegen could not reach and was gradually entering the network for madness of San Mamés. Garitano's plan had triumphed again, Athletic had taken advantage of Barcelona in the discount and this time to eliminate him, get into the semifinals and delve into the crisis.

The Biscayns will be the fourth team in the semifinals draw. The room that started as not favorite and gives the bell. This time on a club that runs out of its second campaign title and how it does not end out of a crisis that originated in Anfield nine months ago. Seeing is believing. The new format of the Cup only leaves surprises and Athletic will fight with Real Sociedad, Granada and Mirandés for being the new king of Spain. Prepare the barge.

DATA SHEET

OUTCOME: Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Barcelona (Williams 92 ')

ATHLETIC DE BILBAO: Unai Simón, Capa, Yeray, Unai Núñez, Íñigo Martínez, Yuri, Dani García, Vesga (San José 66 '), Raúl García (Ibai 88'), Muniain (Aduriz 76 ') and Williams.

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Piqué (Umtiti 79 '), Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Busquets, De Jong, Rakitic (Arthur 69'), Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati (Griezmann 57 ') and Messi.

REFEREE: Martínez Munuera. He showed yellow to Yeray, Vesga and Dani García in Athletic and Semedo, Messi, Jordi Alba, De Jong, Piqué and Arthur in Barcelona. He admonished Quique Setién in Barcelona.

STADIUM: San Mamés.