Barcelona’s defence of their Copa del Rey trophy came to an end at San Mames on a costly night for the Catalans who saw both Pedri and Ansu Fati pick up injuries, while Xavi said Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba both finished the game in a bit of discomfort.
Athletic produced a typical Athletic performance that almost seemed to take Barca by surprise. Xavi admitted after the game that the hosts’ intensity had won the game, and he certainly wasn’t wrong, but the players surely must have been expecting nothing less from the Basques.
There may be complaints about the penalty from which Iker Munian won the match in extra-time, but the truth is that Athletic were the better, more committed, hungrier and determined side who deserved to go through.