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FC Barcelona achieved a crucial 2-0 victory over Athletic Club in San Mamés in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. The Catalan giants now have one foot in the quarter-finals, with a well-deserved lead that they can take to Camp Nou for the second leg. Barcelona controlled the match for long periods, with goals from Robert Lewandowski in each half ensuring they would leave the Basque Country with a two-goal cushion.
The match was a test of both Barcelona’s tactical discipline and their ability to handle pressure in a hostile environment. Athletic Club, known for their intense high pressing and physical style of play, looked to impose themselves early, but Barcelona’s technical quality, combined with a clinical performance from their star striker Lewandowski, proved to be the difference.
First half: Barcelona asserts its dominance from the start
From the opening whistle, it was clear that Barcelona’s strategy was to dictate the game with possession and intelligent ball movement. Xavi Hernández, as always, encouraged his players to maintain control in the center of the field and build their attacks from the back. Despite strong pressure from Athletic Club, the visitors showed composure in possession, especially through Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, who controlled the pace of the match with ease.
The first real chance of the game came in the 10th minute, when Raphinha, who was causing problems on the right wing, sent in a dangerous cross. Lewandowski was in the perfect position to connect the ball, but his header went just wide. It was a sign of things to come, as Barcelona continued to look like the more dangerous side, constantly finding space in the final third.
Barcelona’s perseverance paid off in the 15th minute. After a sustained period of pressure, Raphinha once again sent a precise cross into the box. This time, Lewandowski made no mistake and rose above the Athletic defenders to head a header past goalkeeper Unai Simón. The Polish striker’s header was a textbook finish, demonstrating his aerial skill and clinical nature. A goal that came at the perfect time, giving Barcelona the lead and forcing Athletic Club to come out of its shell.
In response, Athletic Club intensified its pressure, hoping to surprise Barcelona. Iñaki Williams, the club’s star striker, was especially active, trying to take advantage of his pace to stretch Barcelona’s defense. In the 25th minute, Williams found himself on target following a misplaced pass from Barcelona, but Marc-André ter Stegen was quick to come off his line to deny the striker a well-timed save. It was a key moment of the match, as Athletic’s best chance of the first half was wasted.
Barcelona continued to dominate possession, with the midfield trio of Busquets, De Jong and Gavi pulling the strings. Ansu Fati, who was deployed on the left wing, looked lively and combined well with Lewandowski and Raphinha. However, despite the dominance, Barcelona were unable to extend their lead before the break. Athletic managed to create a few more chances, but Barcelona’s defense, led by Gerard Piqué, stood firm and ensured that their lead remained intact until the second half.
Second half: Lewandowski attacks again
The second half saw a more determined Athletic Club, knowing that a goal would give them back the tie. They started the half with more intensity, attacking in search of an equalizer. However, their attacking efforts left them vulnerable to counterattacks, and Barcelona were more than capable of exploiting the spaces left by their high defensive line.
In the 58th minute, Barcelona dealt the final blow. A quick counterattack began with a magnificent pass from De Jong to Raphinha, who was advancing down the right wing. The Brazilian winger controlled the ball with great precision before locating Lewandowski in the center. The striker, who had already opened the scoring early in the match, made no mistake and calmly passed the ball over Simón to double Barcelona’s lead. It was a classic counter-attacking goal, demonstrating Barcelona’s ability to absorb pressure and then punish their opponents with devastating effectiveness.
Athletic, now trailing by two goals, struggled to find a way through Barcelona’s well-organized defense. Piqué and Éric García were determined when facing Athletic’s physical attack, and Ter Stegen, who had not had any major problems in the first half, remained alert when necessary. The home team continued to press, but their efforts became increasingly frantic, with little reward for their perseverance.
As the match progressed, Xavi made several substitutions to help his team maintain control. Pedri came in to provide new energy in the midfield, while Jordi Alba came in to add solidity in defense. These changes helped Barcelona comfortably get through the rest of the match, with Athletic unable to mount any serious challenge in the closing stages. The match ended 2-0 and Barcelona’s work was halfway done.
Looking to the future: work half done
With a two-goal lead, Barcelona heads into the second leg at the Camp Nou in a good position to advance. The result was well deserved, but coach Xavi was quick to remind his players that there is still work to do. “We’ve done half the job, but there’s still another 90 minutes to play,” he said in his post-match interview. “We have to be focused and not underestimate Athletic Club. They are a tough team and we know that the second leg will be difficult, especially because of the atmosphere at the Camp Nou. We will have to do our best to finish the job.”
Barcelona’s performance in this match was an excellent demonstration of their tactical maturity. Xavi’s team was patient in possession, clinical when necessary and solid in defence. The standout player was Lewandowski, whose two goals were crucial to the victory, but the team’s overall performance was impressive. From midfield control to defensive resilience, Barcelona displayed the qualities that have made them such a formidable team under Xavi.
Despite the good result, Barcelona will not take its rival lightly in the second leg. Athletic Club will undoubtedly be encouraged by their passionate fans at the Camp Nou and, with a two-goal deficit to overcome, they will come out with all their weapons. However, if Barcelona can replicate their performance in the first leg, they will be in a strong position to seal their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
