Barcelona's downhill climb doesn't seem to stop
.
Xavi Hernández
's team
once again found itself at the center of criticism after losing 4-2 in extra time against
Athletic Bilbao
and being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the
Copa del Rey
.
The scorers were the brothers Iñaki and Nico Wiliams, with their goals in extra time.
There is only one place left in the semi-finals.
After Real Sociedad's 2-1 victory over Celta de Vigo on Tuesday and
Mallorca
's 3-2 victory against
Girona
this Wednesday,
Athletic Bilbao added a victory that was not confirmed until the 121st minute of their match against Barcelona in San Mamés.
Athletic took the lead with a goal from Gorka Guruzeta before the first minute of play, but Barça came back through Robert Lewandowski, at 26 minutes of play, and Lamine Yamal (32) before Oihan Sancet (49) sent the goal. match to extra time, where Iñaki Williams (107) and his brother Nico (120+1) sealed the story.
The Bilbao team, which has won the Copa del Rey the second most times behind Barcelona, once again eliminated the culé in extra time as in 2022 and reached the semi-finals of the domestic competition for the fifth consecutive time.
Now, they will go in search of their first title in the competition since they last won it in the 1983-84 season.
NICO WILLIAMS, WHAT A GREAT GOAL.
🎩🇪🇸pic.twitter.com/5VhrtKQJXH
— Sudanalytics (@sudanalytics_) January 24, 2024
The Basque team joined Mallorca in the next round, which left Girona, the great revelation of Spanish football, on the way, with a double from Abdón Prats, in a match that ended with ten due to the expulsion of local Antonio Raíllo.
Cyle Larin's goal (21) and Prats' goals, the second from a penalty (28, 35) put Mallorca on track against the current leader of the Spanish championship, who was one step away from a comeback with Cristhian's penalty. Stuani (68) and Savinho's goal (90+5).