Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Barcelona: Basque side win Copa del Rey thriller

Publish date: 2024-07-11

Barcelona were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao after losing their quarter-final 4-2 at San Mames.

Inaki Williams, who only returned to Bilbao from the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday morning, inspired the hosts to victory in extra time.

Gorka Guruzeta gave the hosts a first-minute lead but Barca were ahead before the break when Robert Lewandowski equalised and Lamine Yamal made it 2-1

Oihan Sancet levelled before Williams and his brother Nico sealed victory.

Inaki Williams was part of the Ghana squad knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday following a draw with Mozambique.

The forward flew from Ivory Coast to Paris before taking a plane to Bilbao and landing around 11am on the day of the match.

He came off the bench in the second half against Barcelona and then found the breakthrough in extra time.

Younger brother Nico, who plays his international football for Spain, scored in the closing moments to secure Athletic Bilbao a semi-final spot.

Xavi's Barcelona side dominated possession, but the host looked the most dangerous and had 27 shots on goal.

However, 16-year-old Yamal, who became the competition's youngest scorer, could have put Barca into the semi-finals in the final minutes but he missed an open goal after rounding keeper Julen Agirrezabala.

Defeat means Barcelona and Real Madrid - who have won 10 of the past 15 Copas del Rey - are both out of the competition.

Line-ups

Ath Bilbao

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Agirrezabala

15Lekue3Vivian4Paredes17Berchiche

24Prados6Vesga

29Ares Djaló8Sancet11Nico Williams

12Guruzeta

Substitutes

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

13Peña Sotorres

23Koundé4Araújo15Christensen3Balde

22Gündogan21F de Jong8Pedri

27Yamal9Lewandowski7F Torres

Substitutes

Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez

Attendance:50,403

Match Stats

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