Barcelona were kicked out of the Copa del Rey on Thursday as Ferran Torres’ first goal for the club failed to prevent a dramatic 3-2 defeat by Athletic Bilbao after extra time. The disappointment for Barca was compounded by the sight of a clearly upset Anu Fati having been injured in the second half of normal time at San Mames. Fati had returned earlier this month after being out for two months with a hamstring problem, also coming back in September 10 months after a knee injury. Another spell for Fati would be a major blow to Barcelona’s hopes of breaking into La Liga’s top four. Pedri also asked to go out in extra time.
Real Madrid needed an extra 30 minutes to beat Elche 2-1, after Marcelo’s red card Eden Hazard grabbed the winner, forcing the La Liga leaders to come from behind with 10 men.
Isco equalized after Gonzalu Verdu put Elche in front.
“Maybe Hazard and Isco deserve to play more. I know I can count on them,” said Carlo Ancelotti.
Barca were hoping to join Real Madrid in the last eight, but instead it is Athletic who join forces with Madrid, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Rayo Vallecano, Cadiz, Valencia and Real Betis in a draw for the last eight on Friday Gone.
Madrid will be firm favourites, especially after Sevilla’s crash at the hands of Real Betis, which is now perhaps Ancelotti’s biggest threat to win their first Copa del Rey since 2014, Ancelotti’s first as coach. during the tenure.
Barca won the Copa del Rey last season and defending their title was perhaps their best chance at silverware of the period.
They are out of sight in La Liga and lost to Madrid in last week’s Spanish Super Cup, with the Europa League now their only realistic remaining route to the trophy.
Xavi Hernandez said, “They beat us intensely. We have to change the dynamic because when it’s heads or tails we always get tails. You have to work and be brave.”
Only 102 seconds had passed when Iker Munian sent San Mames apoplectic, collecting Nico Williams’ cross at the back post, before turning and bowing in the back corner.
But Barcelona were level in the 20th minute, and from the same angle, Torres slid to the right, inside Oscar de Marcos, and fired a surprise shot into the net.
Inaki Williams hit the bar with a late long-range effort but the real drama was still to come. Athletic thought they had won it in the 86th minute, when Inigo Martínez pushed past Gerard Pique at the back post.
Barcelona, however, came back in the 93rd, as Dani Alves kicked Jordi Alba’s cross back into the field and Pedri’s hit on the stretch was too powerful for Julen Aguirzabala’s right arm.
Barca celebrated like they were the winner but there was extra time to come and injuries. Fati left and then Pedri asked to leave.
Then in the 103rd minute a slippery Alba blocked Nico Williams’ cross with his right hand, and after consulting replays, Jose Munueira pointed to the spot. Ter Stegen dives right, Munyan shoots left.
Hazard had earlier scored his first Real Madrid goal in eight months as Madrid made a dramatic comeback with 10 men to defeat Elche.
The Belgian has been fit but has been out of Ancelotti’s side in recent months and has even started on the bench in this Cup game.
But the 31-year-old has come on for extra time and will hope that his winner can now start a revival in the second half of the season.
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