Athletic Bilbao secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, delivering a thrilling blow to Barcelona in an intense match.
Athletic Bilbao emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline over Barcelona in a quarter-final clash of the Copa del Rey.
The duo of Inaki and Nico Williams netted two goals in extra time, following a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored for Barcelona, while Guruzeta, Ohian Sancet, Inaki, and Nico Williams secured the goals for Athletic Bilbao.
The Butterfly Effect
Ghana’s goalkeeper Ofori misjudged a straightforward ball in the final minutes of the match against Mozambique, resulting in the equalizing goal for the opponent.
Ghana’s exit from the African Cup due to this draw paved the way for Egypt’s qualification, swiftly bringing Williams back to his Spanish team.
Williams, who traveled from Côte d’Ivoire to Spain, arrived on Wednesday morning to play a crucial role in Barcelona’s defeat and Athletic Bilbao’s advancement to the semi-finals.
Match Overview
Bilbao initiated the game with offensive pressure, scoring early in the 36th minute through Guruzeta.
Bilbao’s defense prevented Barcelona from equalizing, with the ball cleared before reaching Robert Lewandowski.
A defensive error from Bilbao led to a collision, redirecting the ball off Lewandowski and allowing Barcelona to level the score.
Lamine Yamal secured Barcelona’s second goal with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box in the 31st minute.
Bilbao intensified their efforts in the second half, with Ohian Sancet successfully heading in the equalizer.
Lamine Yamal missed a chance to score a late winner after dribbling past the Bilbao goalkeeper but placing the ball over the open goal.
In the last minute of extra time, Inaki Williams scored the third goal after a solo run against Barcelona.
Nico Williams, the younger brother, sealed Bilbao’s victory with a powerful shot in the 119th minute, securing their place in the semi-finals.
