Barcelona Copa del Rey Exit: Athletic Bilbao Triumphs in Extra Time, Girona’s Cup Run Ends

Barcelona’s cup woes continue as they endure another disappointing defeat, this time at the hands of Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

The thrilling encounter ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, only for Bilbao’s sibling duo, Iñaki and Nico Williams, to secure a 4-2 victory in extra time.

Iñaki Williams, having returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, played a pivotal role in Bilbao’s triumph.

Barcelona manager Xavi acknowledges the disappointment of losing a trophy, especially in extra time, but expresses pride in the young players who showcased exceptional performances.

Xavi recognizes the challenging nature of facing Athletic Bilbao, describing them as an intense and aggressive team, the most physical in the league.

The match kicked off on a sour note for Barcelona, conceding a goal within 35 seconds after failing to clear the ball under pressure.

The Blaugrana managed to level the score in the 25th minute through a fortunate rebound off Robert Lewandowski.

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal set a Copa del Rey record by becoming the youngest player this century to score in the competition with a remarkable left-footed strike.

Despite the brilliance of Barcelona’s second goal by Yamal, Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet equalized after halftime, setting the stage for extra time.

Athletic Bilbao sealed the victory with Iñaki Williams scoring from a rebound and Nico Williams adding a fourth with a well-timed shot.

In another surprising turn of events, La Liga leaders Girona faced a setback in the Copa del Rey, losing 3-2 to Mallorca.

Mallorca, positioned 14 places below Girona in La Liga, stunned the league leaders with a 3-0 lead in the first half.

Girona’s efforts to stage a comeback fell short, with Mallorca holding firm even after going down to 10 men.

The Brazilian forward Sávio scored a late goal, but Girona’s cup run came to an end, allowing them to focus solely on their league aspirations.