Athletic Bilbao emerged triumphant over FC Barcelona in a captivating Copa del Rey quarter-final clash, securing a 4-2 victory in overtime. The Williams brothers, Nico and Inaki, played pivotal roles in Bilbao’s dramatic win, propelling them to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.
The highly anticipated fixture, hosted at San Mamès, unfolded against the backdrop of Real Sociedad’s narrow triumph over Celta Vigo and Girona’s unexpected defeat against Mallorca in earlier quarter-final matchups
Athletic Bilbao, buoyed by recent successes and boasting only one defeat in their last fifteen encounters across all competitions, faced a formidable FC Barcelona side keen on advancing further in the Copa del Rey.
From the outset, the Rojiblancos seized control, with Guruzeta opening the scoring in the 1st minute. However, Barcelona responded with resilience, equalizing through Lewandowski’s opportunistic strike (26th).
The Catalan side then took the lead with a goal from the 16-year-old talent Yamal (32nd). Undeterred, Athletic Bilbao rallied before halftime, applying pressure and forcing notable saves from Barcelona’s goalkeeper Pena.
The second half witnessed a resurgent Bilbao, with Sancet restoring parity with a header in the 49th minute.
The home team continued to dominate, testing Barcelona’s defense. Despite opportunities for both sides, the 90 minutes concluded without a decisive winner, leading to an additional 30 minutes of extra time.
The Williams brothers became instrumental in the extended play, with Nico and Inaki delivering relentless attacks on Barcelona’s goal.
In a spectacular individual effort, Inaki Williams capitalized on a Ghanaian-inspired play, scoring in the 105th+2 minute.
Nico Williams added to the spectacle with a stunning goal in the 121st minute, securing Athletic Bilbao’s well-deserved spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
The defeat poses concerns for FC Barcelona, now eliminated from the competition and trailing in the La Liga race.
As Athletic Bilbao basks in the glory of a remarkable victory, the football world awaits the semi-final matchups, anticipating more exhilarating moments in the quest for Copa del Rey glory.
