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Iñaki Williams arrived from Africa in time to beat Barça and qualify for Athletic in a confident cup game. Although his brother Nico also had time to score, the quarter-final was a decidedly unforgettable cup date in San Mamés with the international Ghana's 3-2 result after a game. There are certainly no better teams to honor a competition that usually brings dizzying nights like the one at La Catedral. The victory fell to Athletic's side because they were better and were experiencing a moment of footballing abundance, invincible in their volcanic stadium, ready to settle the score with Barça. The reliability of the Basque team in the qualifying rounds is the same that Barcelona had with Messi when the two teams faced each other in the cup final.
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Julen Agirrezabala, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri, Lekue (De Marcos, min. 90), Vesga (Unai Gómez, min. 45), O. Sancet, Benat Prados (Ander Herrera, min. 90), Nico Williams, Malcom Adu and Guruzeta (Villalibre, Min. 73)
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Iñaki Peña, Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Alex Balde (Hector Fort, Min. 22), A. Christensen (Pau Cubarsí, Min. 69), Pedri (Sergi Roberto, Min. 98), Gündogan, Frenkie De Jong, Ferrán Torres, Lewandowski (João Félix, Min. 77) and Lamine Yamal
Goals 1-0 min 1: Guruzeta. 1-1 min 26: Lewandowski. 1-2 min 31: Lamine Yamal. 2-2 min. 48: O. Sancet. 3-2 mins 106: Williams. 4-2 min 120: Nico Williams.
referee José María Sánchez Martinez
Yellow cards A. Christensen (min. 16), Hernández Creus (min. 17), O. Sancet (min. 35), Ferrán Torres (min. 82), Hector Fort (min. 84), Lamine Yamal (min. 95 ). ), Ander Herrera (min. 108), Frenkie De Jong (min. 114), Sergi Roberto (min. 117) and Nico Williams (min. 121)
Under the urge to win, the Barcelona fans fought with generosity, as generous in their commitment and pride as inconsistent, sanctioned by Iñaki Williams, as happened two seasons ago at the same San Mamés. Barça also lost the cup after the Super Cup and in return perhaps won a team, considering the poor performances of the veterans and the excellent performances of their youth players Cubarsí, Fort and Lamine Yamal. There was also an exceptional duel between La Masia and Lezama.
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After 36 seconds, Barça was eliminated from the cup, just as passively as in the league. The Blaugrana continue to outdo themselves and beat each other earlier and earlier, usually as soon as the opponent receives the ball, accustomed to games not starting 0-0 but 0-1. Athletic's attack collapsed Barça's defensive platform as soon as Lamine Yamal lost the ball and there was a pile-up in the penalty area by Peña, which was solved by Guruzeta, who started ahead of Villalibre.
Valverde's bets paid off because Guruzeta was close to making it 2-0 shortly after making it 1-0 when he failed to finish off Adu Ares' cross. Muniain and Iñaki Williams did not start and formed Adu Ares instead. The red and white wingers flew over the Barça teams. The Blaugrana lost individual duels and fought for the ball as best they could against Athletic's direct and intense football. Until Bucket broke.
With Cancelo still limping, Héctor Fort appeared. The Barcelona fans gained confidence, began to take their place on the pitch and found themselves with a rebound goal from Lewandowski. Yuri's free kick hit the left leg of the striker, who reacted to the pressure and the ball went into the Athletic net. The draw dismantled the Basques and emboldened Jamal. The winger was reminiscent of Messi after breaking free from the right wing, bringing down Vesga and pulling a diagonal into the balcony of the penalty area, ending with an impossible left cross for Agirrezabala.
The course of the game confirmed Xavi's bet. Although Athletic has nothing to do with Betis, the victory at Villamarín left Barça with such good feelings that the coach continued with the same line-up, with the exception of Christensen. The coach had more faith in his team than fear of the opponent and maintained his commitment to players like Yamal, who sealed the comeback with an extraordinary goal, already announced at Villamarín.
The effectiveness of the strikers of the game required Barça to have ball speed and precision to counter Athletic's pressure. Barça's energy briefly ran out in the dressing room and Athletic equalized with a couple of balls after Sancet headed Nico's cross home.
No Barcelona fan overcame the red and white attackers, magnified by the roar of San Mamés. The Blaugrana don't know how to defend, they don't understand the game without the ball, they win with shared balls and are soft when they face courageous rivals like Athletic. The game developed in favor of Valverde's team. The intervention of Iñaki Williams underlined the Basque superiority, while Barça, punished by losses, tried to extend its pressure on Agirrezabala's goal with the threat of Yamal.
In the open field, the winger missed the goalkeeper after an assist from Lewandowski. Barça opted for substitutions while Athletic applied pressure, demanding physical and tactical demands on the injured Araujo and Christensen, replaced by Cubarsí, a 17-year-old central defender who was the same age as Fort's full-back. A young defense defended the Athletic Lions bravely. Although the new additions followed each other, the game was more at the mercy of Yamal than João Félix due to Athletic's lack of accuracy. The winger failed to fire into the empty net after firing the ball past Paredes and evading Agirrezabala.
With both teams exhausted, fans were grateful for extra time in such an open and lively game, in keeping with the spirit of the cup. Iñaki Williams then appeared in the middle of Barcelona's ball jam and punished a defeat by Sergi Roberto Athletic's luck and Barça's misfortune. With more future than present in an unforgettable cup night.
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