Ronald Koeman described the Copa del Rey as the shortest route to a trophy for a team that, he admitted, "isn't in a position to win much," and yet by a little before 11 o'clock on Wednesday night, even that looked like a very, very long way away. They had kept going, but everywhere they turned they found the road blocked, no way through. The ball bounced off the post, off the bar and off Aaron Escandell, shots coming from everywhere and going every which way but in as time, and another title, slipped away.
"It seemed like we were going to lose.