Abidal’s first ever goal for FC Barcelona has qualified the team for the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey after 90 passionate minutes at San Mamés. Getafe or Betis await in the next round.The two teams that have won this tournament the most times provided the expected footballing feast at San Mamés, Bilbao. There was no end of intensity, emotion and also two great goals on a memorable night of cup football. Barça controlled the play, but it was a tight affair, and extra time loomed until Abidal struck in the 75th minute, the first time he has scored in 130 appearances for the club. It looked the goal had done the trick, but a late Llorente goal meant for a nail-biting finale.
FC Barcelona now have to wait and see whether they play Getafe or Betis, but already know that the first leg will be next week at the Camp Nou.
Hopeful start
Guardiola’s side, with Puyol and Iniesta on the bench, were astute from the start at San Mamés. The play was fast and the passing perfect as they closed Athletic Bilbao in their own half for the first quarter of an hour, in which Villa had a great chance to open the scoring against Iraizoz. But despite the promising start, Barça gradually started losing possession to an increasingly more confident Bilbao.
Even affair
Barça had had 70% of the possession in the first 20 minutes, but then it became an end to end affair, with Athletic Club producing some dangerous counter attacks. Half time came with no real chances for either side, and extra time looked increasingly likely.
Iniesta guides Barça
Barça suffered the most just after the restart, when Athletic, buoyed by their ever vociferous fans, pinned them back in their own half for quite some time. But the assault didn’t last and in the last half hour, Barcelona were back to their glorious best, perhaps not coincidentally due to Iniesta being sent on. Barça’s hour had come, and also the goal.
History for Abidal
Villa was causing constant headaches for the home side, dodging cleverly between the corpulent Ustaritz and Ocio, who were being worn out by the Asturian. Messi was also blazing, and it was he who laid on the assist for Abidal to make it 1-0 in the 75th minute. The Frenchman, who had moved to full back following the entry in play of Iniesta (who took over the central role played until then by Busquets), came in from behind to beat Iraizoz with an unstoppable strike. It was his first goal for Barça, coming moments after he had been hit by object thrown from the stands
Llorente creates suspense
But just as Guardiola had warned, games at San Mamés are never over until the final whistle blows. And just when it looked like it was all over, Llorente scored a terrific goal from inside the area to put matters on a knife-edge. Another goal, and the Basques were going through. As it was, Barcelona stood to benefit from the away goals rule. Afellay was sent on for his Barça debut in the thick of some of the most intense football the side has faced this season, but the spirit showed through and Barcelona, on the even of King’s Day in Spain, were able to provide their fans with their first gift of the holiday!
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