Copa exit becomes Barcelona’s latest setback; Madrid rallies

Barcelona's Pedri falls during the Spanish Copa del Rey Cup round of 16 soccer match between Athletic Club and Barcelona at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona’s list of disappointments this season got longer Thursday with a loss to Athletic Bilbao in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona lost 3-2 in extra time to add to recent failures in the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League. The Catalan club also trails Real Madrid by 17 points in the Spanish league, and the Europa League is the only title it can realistically play for in its first season since the departure of Lionel Messi, the Argentina star who moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid also needed extra time at Elche but avoided an upset thanks to Eden Hazard’s late goal after the team went a man down and needed to come from behind to win 2-1.

BARCELONA FAILS AGAIN

Defending Copa champion Barcelona couldn’t get past Athletic despite equalizing twice in a rematch of last year’s final, losing after Iker Munain converted a penalty kick late in the first half of extra time.

Munain put Athletic ahead two minutes into the match at San Mamés Stadium before Ferran Torres equalized in the 20th with his first goal since joining Barcelona — a beautiful curling shot into the top corner.

Athletic players celebrate after the Spanish Copa del Rey Cup round of 16 soccer match between Athletic Club and Barcelona at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Athletic won 3-2. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Iñigo Martínez restored the host’s lead from close range in the 86th but Pedri González sent the match into extra time with a goal in stoppage time.

Barcelona, which couldn’t keep Messi because of its financial struggles, didn’t make it past the group stage in the Champions League and last week lost to Madrid in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup.

“We don’t have any other choice than to keep believing in our project,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said.

Barcelona's head coach Xavi Hernandez reacts during the Spanish Copa del Rey Cup round of 16 soccer match between Athletic Club and Barcelona at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

American defender Sergiño Dest, returning from a back injury and a positive COVID-19 test, entered in the 96th minute in his first appearance since Dec. 8.

The other teams to reach the Copa quarterfinals are Mallorca, Cádiz, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Real Betis and Real Sociedad, which eliminated defending Spanish champion Atlético Madrid on Wednesday.

MADRID RALLIES

Isco Alarcón and Hazard — who has played sparingly this season — scored in the second half of extra time to send Madrid into the Copa quarterfinals.

Real Madrid's Isco, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Copa del Rey soccer match between Elche and Real Madrid at Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

“I’m happy for Isco and Hazard,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “They haven’t played many minutes but they came through today.”

Hazard came on at the start of extra time and scored in the final minutes on a breakaway from near the midfield line. He picked up a pass by David Alaba and got around the goalkeeper before finding the open net for his first goal with Madrid since May.

Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, right, kicks the ball for scoring his side's second goal during a Copa del Rey soccer match between Elche and Real Madrid at Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Hazard himself thought he was offside and hesitated to celebrate at first but the goal was confirmed after a video review.

Gonzalo Verdú has scored for Elche in the first half of extra time with a shot from outside the area that fooled Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin after deflecting on defender Dani Ceballos.

The goal came following a free kick that prompted the red card to Marcelo as he fouled a defender from behind to stop a counterattack.

Madrid responded when Isco redirected a shot by Ceballos inside the area after being set up by Casemiro.

Elche thought it had equalized just before the final whistle but the goal was called back because of a foul on a defender inside the area.

Madrid is seeking its first Copa title since 2013-14. It was stunned by third-division club Alcoyano in the round of 16 last season while still under coach Zinedine Zidane.

Elche was playing in the round of 16 for the first time since 2014-15.

Madrid was coming off triumph in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, where it beat Barcelona in the semifinals and Athletic in the final.

Ancelotti left three regular starters off the squad for Thursday’s game — goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, defender Éder Militão and striker Karim Benzema, the team’s leading scorer this season. Gareth Bale returned following a long injury layoff but stayed on the bench.

GETAFE MOVES UP

Getafe defeated Granada 4-2 at home for its third win in its last four Spanish league matches.

The result moved the Madrid side to 16th place, four points from the relegation zone. Granada, which was coming off two draws, stay 14th.

By Associated Press

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