Copa del rey FC Barcelona qualified after a crazy match against Granada

In a crazy match (3-5), FC Barcelona ended up knocking down a very brave team from Granada at the end. Antoine Griezmann was one of the great craftsmen by scoring two goals and delivering two assists. The Blaugranas qualified for the semi-finals of the King's Cup.


Copa del rey FC Barcelona qualified after a crazy match against Granada

The FC Barcelona, which remained on four victories in a row, moved to the field of Granada for the quarter-finals of the King's Cup. Despite the sequence of matches for more than a month now (11 matches in 37 days), there is no way Ronald Koeman will let his managers rest. Lionel Messi was well aligned on the front line of attack accompanied by Antoine Griezmann and Trincão. In defense, Samuel Umtiti confirmed his return to form of the last few games as he was once again in the starting line-up alongside Araujo, under the nose and beard of Clement Lenglet. In the side of Grenada, the current eighth in La Liga, confidence reigned. Diego Martinez also fielded his typical team, with the experienced Roberto Soldado at the forefront of the attack.


The beginning of the match was largely in favor of Barça. From the first minutes, the Blaugranas logically took control of the ball and rushed into attack. It took only three minutes to see Araujo come close to opening the score. It took an excellent Escandell, a La Liga substitute and starting goalkeeper on Wednesday, to keep his side from breaking down too quickly. He made a magnificent double save on Messi and then Trincao (7th). He was also the one who kept a close eye on a new header from Araujo (13th) before pushing away a very dangerous free kick from La Pulga (22nd). And by dint of lack of realism, Granada punished Barça. On his only chance, well helped by a big loss of Umtiti's ball in his area, Kennedy opened the score (1-0, 32nd). The Chelsea loaner pushed an excellent cross from Alberto Soro Álvarez into the empty net. A goal against the course of the game.


A crazy end of game


When Granada came back from the locker room, they surprised a wait-and-see Barcelona team from the very beginning. After Griezmann's ball loss, Ángel Montoro Sánchez threw Soldado deep into the net. The Spaniard took advantage of a big mistake of Samuel Umtiti's placement, again him, to go alone to the goal on thirty meters. The former Villarreal striker did not tremble and beat Ter Stegen in a controlled manner (2-0, 46th). The cold shower for the Barça who, in addition to lacking technical accuracy, like Pedri and Trincão too messy, fell on an impassable Escandell, and even Messi could not do anything (60th). When the Spanish keeper didn't deflect the ball, he let his crossbar take care of it, as he did with Trincão's powerful shot (63rd).


Samuel Umtiti was in great difficulty, too much so in fact, and left his place to Braithwaite shortly before the hour. The world champion suffered a lot in this match. In an attempt to reverse a trap game, Ronald Koeman took all the risks by bringing in Dembélé, Riqui Puig, and Sergino Dest. The Blaugranas even finished the last 15 minutes with only one central defender (Araujo) forcing De Jong to play alongside the Uruguayan. But despite all the efforts of the world, Granada, well in place, did not seem to crack thanks to ... Aaron Escandell, just to show a little more that he was on a cloud, slammed a parry on a bicycle from Griezmann (83rd) before winning face-to-face on Dest (84th) and then being saved again by the bar on a shot from Dembélé (88th). The 25-year-old goalkeeper made 14 saves in the match. And even though he scored an own goal, which we could rather give to Griezmann (2-1, 88th), Escandell was flawless. The last three minutes were absolutely intense. Messi hit the post again and again (90'). But it seemed to be written. Luck was going to turn around eventually. And this luck was illustrated by Messi's left foot which found Griezmann who put the ball on Jordi Alba's head for the equaliser. (2-2, 90+3e)


A Griezmann of great evenings


The Spanish left-back extended this crazy game for another thirty minutes. Stunned by the equaliser, Granada was less comfortable with Barcelona's onslaught. Antoine Griezmann, in all the good shots this Wednesday, gave the advantage to his own with a magnificent header (2-3, 100th). But in a game with a bounce, we should not expect the score to remain there. Only three minutes later, Granada got a penalty after a foul by Sergino Dest. Fede Vico (3-3, 103rd) converted the penalty without shaking (3-3, 103rd).


He started as an attacking midfielder and finished as a central defender until the hundredth minute before finishing as a forward. The salute could only come from him. It was obviously Frenkie De Jong. The Dutchman, a man in good shape in recent weeks in Catalonia, was bound to be the savior of his team since he is already Koeman's Swiss Army knife. He followed well after a shot from Messi (4-3, 102nd). This time, Granada will not come back. Jordi Alba even scored a double after a wonderful volley on an equally sublime pass from Griezmann. A heroic Barca, overwhelming, which imposes itself, not without difficulty, against a valiant team of Grenada. The Blaugranas go into the semi-finals of the King's Cup.


Source: Website

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