Iñaki Williams, after returning from Ghana’s early elimination from the Africa Cup, made an impressive impact by scoring in extra time to lead Athletic Bilbao to a 4-2 victory over Barcelona and secure a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals. Williams, who had just returned from Ghana’s last match in Ivory Coast, scored in the 107th minute, with his younger brother, Nico Williams, sealing the victory in stoppage time.
This defeat was another blow for Barcelona, as they were once again eliminated by Athletic in extra time in the round of 16 of the Copa, having missed out on a chance to make it to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. Athletic, on the other hand, has been a consistent performer in recent seasons, finishing as the runner-up in 2019-20 and 2020-21, and reaching the semifinals for the past two seasons before this win.
Despite arriving in Spain on the day of the match, Williams started on the bench but made an immediate impact when he was substituted in the 59th minute, eventually scoring the winning goal in extra time. Speaking after the match, Williams expressed his disbelief at the turn of events, especially after his disappointing performances in the Africa Cup, where Ghana was eliminated in the group stage.
The match was an open and high-scoring affair, with significant chances for both teams. Teenager Lamine Yamal had a golden opportunity to score a winner for Barcelona in regulation time but missed an open net in the 86th minute. Despite the missed chance, Barcelona rallied to take the lead with goals from Robert Lewandowski and Yamal. However, Athletic fought back with goals from Gorka Guruzeta and Oihan Sancet. Barcelona suffered a further setback when defender Alejandro Balde had to be replaced due to injury early in the game.
Meanwhile, in another Copa del Rey match, Spanish league leader Girona was eliminated after losing 3-2 to Mallorca. Girona played with a man down in the second half after Antonio Raíllo was sent off, ultimately missing its chance to reach the semifinals for the first time.
In upcoming Copa del Rey fixtures, Atletico Madrid, which eliminated defending champion Real Madrid in the round of 16, is set to host struggling Sevilla, who is currently just outside the relegation zone in the Spanish league.
The Copa del Rey continues to provide thrilling encounters, and we can expect more exciting matches as the competition progresses.
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