Copa Del Rey: Barca Crash Out After Extra-Time Defeat By Athletic Bilbao

The final score of the match was 3-2 played at San Mames

Barcelona was dumped out of the Copa Del Rey after a dramatic 3-2 defeat after extra time by Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona’s newly appointed head coach Xavi admitted his Barcelona team failed to match the intensity of Athletic Bilbao as they tumbled out of the Copa del Rey at the last-16 stage, another blow in a dismal season.

Barcelona may yet claw their way into the Champions League places in LaLiga, but their trophy pursuit looks doomed to failure. Beaten by Real Madrid last week in the Supercopa semi-finals, a 3-2 defeat after extra-time against Athletic was another bitter pill for head coach Xavi and his players.

Disappointment for Barca was compounded by the sight of a visibly upset Ansu Fati going off injured in the second half of normal time at San Mames.

Fati only returned earlier this month after two months out with a hamstring problem, having also come back in September following 10 months out with a knee injury.

Real Madrid needed an extra 30 minutes as well to defeat Elche 2-1, with Eden Hazard grabbing the winner after Marcelo’s red card forced La Liga’s leaders to come from behind with 10 men.

Isco scored the equaliser after Gonzalu Verdu put Elche in front.

“It may be that Hazard and Isco deserve to play more,” said Carlo Ancelotti. “I know I can count on them.”

Barca was hoping to join Real Madrid in the last eight but instead, it is Athletic who advance, joining Madrid, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Rayo Vallecano, Cadiz, Valencia and Real Betis in Friday’s draw for the last eight.