MX23RW : Monday, April 19 12:27:57| >> :60:14:14:
Feb 6, 2020 at 8pm UK at San Mames
Attendance: 49,154
Athletic Bilbao
1-0
Barcelona
Busquets (90' og.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Result: Last-gasp Inaki Williams goal dumps Barcelona out of Copa del Rey

Barcelona and Real Madrid were both knocked out on Thursday.

Inaki Williams' stoppage-time header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win over Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona had reached the final of the competition in each of the last six years, winning four of them, but were dumped out this year after some late drama at San Mames.

With the five minutes of added time played, and the tie appearing set for extra-time and possibly a penalty shoot-out, Williams glanced the ball past Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to snatch a dramatic victory.

Barcelona, winners of the competition a record 30 times, had just one change from their last LaLiga match as Sergi Roberto came in for Antoine Griezmann.

It did not take long for Lionel Messi – whose row with director Eric Abidal had overshadowed the build-up to the match – to carve open the home defence as he set Ansu Fati clear, but the 17-year-old forward sliced his shot wide.

Athletic, whose last of 23 Copa del Rey triumphs came in 1984, thought they had opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Williams knocked the ball in from a corner, but the offside flag was raised.

Inigo Martinez celebrates at full-time
Inigo Martinez celebrates at full-time (Alvaro Barrientos/AP)

There was a let off for Ter Stegen when his stray pass fell to Raul Garcia, but the midfielder shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

As half-time approached, Barcelona were awarded a free-kick in a central position 25 yards out, but Messi's effort hit the wall.

It was a low tempo opening following the restart, before Messi sent Frenkie De Jong clear into the penalty area, where the Dutchman went to ground – and was shown a yellow card for simulation.

Barcelona boss Quique Setien sent on Griezmann to replace Fati for the final 30 minutes – and the French forward was soon in the action as he sent a shot over the crossbar.

De Jong went down again the penalty area, this time under close guard from Bilbao midfielder Ander Capa, but the referee was not interested and waved play on.

In the 70th minute, Roberto got away down the right and cut the ball back to the penalty spot, where Griezmann's low shot was saved by Unai Simon.

After weathering so much pressure, Bilbao almost snatched the lead when Williams' early shot flew over.

Unai Simon would not be beaten
Unai Simon would not be beaten (Alvaro Barrientos/AP)

Simon again came to the rescue for the home side when Messi was put through by substitute Arthur, but his shot was blocked by the keeper's legs.

As the clocked ticked down, Williams put a volley wide at the back post.

But he made no mistake when substitute Ibai Gomez floated a cross over as Williams guided a header into the corner and sparked wild celebrations from the hosts.

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Athletic Bilbao's Unai Nunez in action with Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa in La Liga on March 16, 2019
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico31217357203770
2Real Madrid31207453242967
3Barcelona30205569264365
4Sevilla31204746252164
5Villarreal311213648341449
6Real Betis31146114245-348
7Real Sociedad311211848331547
8Granada30116133650-1439
9Levante31911113844-638
10Celta Vigo31911114148-738
11Athletic Bilbao30910113933637
12Osasuna31910122736-937
13CadizCadiz3199132745-1836
14Valencia31811123944-535
15Getafe31710142234-1231
16AlavesAlaves3169162547-2227
17Huesca31512143146-1527
18Real Valladolid30512132741-1427
19ElcheElche31511152748-2126
20EibarEibar31411162241-1923

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