Barcelona Comeback Seals Victory Over Athletic Club in Copa del Rey Quarter-Final

In a thrilling Copa del Rey quarter-final match held at San Mames, Barcelona staged an impressive comeback to secure a 2-1 victory against Athletic Club.

Athletic Club, managed by Ernesto Valverde, entered the match with high hopes after a successful journey through four knockout rounds of the competition. However, their vulnerability against lower-ranked teams was exposed in recent rounds, and a recent defeat against Valencia in LaLiga added further significance to their cup campaign.

Meanwhile, Barcelona, led by Xavi Hernandez, approached the quarter-final clash in high spirits following a 4-2 victory over Betis in LaLiga. With a smoother Copa del Rey run thus far, the Catalans were determined to go one step further compared to their semi-final finish in the previous season.

The match started explosively, with Athletic Club taking the lead just 40 seconds into the game. Gorka Guruzeta capitalized on a defensive error from Barcelona to put the home team ahead.

Barcelona, however, managed to equalize in the 26th minute through Robert Lewandowski. A well-executed team move involving Andreas Christensen and Ferran Torres led to a fortunate goal, as the ball ricocheted off Lewandowski and found its way into the net.

Unfortunately for Barcelona, injuries continued to plague their squad, with Alejandro Balde being forced off the field due to a hamstring injury in the 23rd minute. Héctor Fort replaced him at left-back.

The turning point of the match came in the 32nd minute, as Barcelona completed their comeback. Lamine Yamal embarked on a sensational solo run on the right wing, cutting inside and unleashing a powerful curling shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Athletic Club fought hard in the second half, but Barcelona’s resilience and defensive solidity ensured they held onto their lead until the final whistle.

With this victory, Barcelona advances to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, maintaining their ambition to add another chapter to their prestigious cup legacy.

To catch all the Copa del Rey action, viewers in the United States can tune in to ESPN+, while those in the United Kingdom can watch the match on Premier Sports.