Copa Del Ray: Athletic Club knocks Barcelona out to reach semis
It was another disappointment for Barcelona, as the club was expecting to go to the Copa del Rey semifinals for the second straight season.
It was another disappointment for Barcelona, as the club was expecting to go to the Copa del Rey semifinals for the second straight season.
FC Barcelona opened a 15-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday night with a 4-0 win away to Elche.
Former Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski then had a great chance to break the deadlock, but the unmarked Pole pulled over the target with 18 minutes gone.
Vinicius Jr. attempted to lead Madrid without Benzema, but Mallorca remained steadfast until the Brazilian scored with a left-foot shot in the 72nd minute
Silva stepped up but couldn't beat goalkeeper Juan Musso, who blocked the penalty and Willi Orban's rebound from very close range in quick succession with 56 minutes gone.
The total stadium occupancy rates across the two divisions jumped from 61.4 per cent in January of the 2019/20 season to the current 65.9 per cent.
Loss of Barca means the viewers won't be watching a Clasico in Sunday's final contest as they will be Atletico Madrid who will be facing Real Madrid for the title.
Iniesta, who left Camp Nou in 2018 in a transfer to Japanese side Vissel Kobe, helped Barca to nine La Liga and four Champions League titles during his time.
By 2021 when Suarez's current contract with Barca expires, he will be 34 and it will be interesting to see if Blaugrana continue with the playmaker.
City were a highly successful team of the past decade (2010-19) which saw them win as many as four Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, three Community Shields and even a couple of FA Cups.