Quite a challenge for Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey. The Barcelona team will have to look for a place in the semi-finals next week, probably on Wednesday, nothing more and nothing less than in San Mamés. It should be remembered that it is the last round that is played in a single match. In this way, the Barça team will continue to count its matches due to displacement in the competition.
It is not the first time that Barça visits San Mamés for a single match in a Cup tie and in the previous two they have bitten the dust. This is what happened in January 2022, in the round of 16, when the Biscayan team beat Barcelona 3-2 in a match that was settled in extra time. Xavi Hernández had not even been on the Barcelona bench for three months.
Quique Setién had been in office for less time when his Barça was also eliminated. It was in February 2020, in the quarterfinals. The Barcelona fans lost 1-0 in a match they could have won. They failed numerous times.
Barça and Athletic is a classic in the Cup as they are the two teams that have won this competition the most times.
This season they are also fighting side by side in the League. With one more game, Athletic is equal on points with Barcelona. With Ernesto Valverde at the helm, the Bilbao team is having a brilliant campaign.
For its part, Girona will also have to look for the semifinals away from Montilivi. He will do it in Mallorca. The other quarterfinal ties are At. Madrid-Seville and Celta-Real Sociedad. The matches will be played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week
