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.
Barcelona reportedly paid 105 million pounds up front (plus add-ons) for Coutinho in 2018 after Neymar left the club for Paris-Saint Germain in 2017.
Premier League was chosen as the best football league in the world by the footballers in German top-division with a mammoth 74.4 per cent votes ahead of Bundesliga and La Liga.
This is also the third successive season that Messi finished with the most assists 21 in the league.
A visibly frustrated Lionel Messi said after Barcelona lost to 10-man Osasuna at home that they have been "an erratic and weak team" throughout the season.
While handing away the lead to Real Madrid hasn't gone down well with Messi, he wants the players to assess themselves and their performances and also get back to winning ways.