Copa del Rey news - Antoine Griezmann strikes late to save Barcelona blushes against Ibiza
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Updated 22/01/2020 at 21:23 GMT
Two late Antoine Griezmann strikes saved Barcelona a lot of embarrassment in their Copa del Rey tie against Ibiza.
Griezmann
Image credit: Getty Images
The Segunda B side took an early lead courtesy of Josep Caballe Martin in the ninth minute, and it looked like they might hold on for a famous victory.
Indeed, they had a second goal disallowed before Rai Nascimento hit the post with Barcelona floundering.
But Griezmann struck the equaliser in the 72nd minute - and then grabbed a winner with the last gasp, in the fourth minute of added time.
Quique Setien's side dominated the ball, as they did on the coach's debut against Granada last weekend, but created no chances until Griezmann fired home.
Setien left Lionel Messi at home and played youth talents like Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati along with some first-team regulars, hoping that blend would be enough to take the record 30-times champions through.
Operating in a new 3-4-3 system, however, Barcelona did not get going and the hosts took full advantage, leading for over an hour.
"We didn't have a single shot in the first half, it was a new system and we had to get used to it," Griezmann told reporters afterwards.
We have to build confidence with the ball, move more in attack, understand the coach's tactics.
"We did a good job, especially in the second half, and I have to thank my team mates for the passes that let me score. I had two chances and they went in."
KEY STATS
- Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann is the first player to score in LaLiga, Champions League, Supercopa and Copa del Rey this season.
- Excluding finals, Barcelona have progressed from their last 25 ties in the Copa del Rey. The last time they were knocked out was in the semifinals against Real Madrid in January 2013 (1-1 at Santiago Bernabeu and 1-3 at Camp Nou).
- Antoine Griezmann has scored his second brace for Barcelona in all competitions and the first one away from home.
- Barcelona have progressed from their last 18 ties against sides from a lower division in the Copa del Rey, failing to do it for the last time against UD Gramanet in October 2004 (1-9 in a single game).
- Neto has failed to keep a single clean sheet in each of his four games for Barcelona in all competitions (seven goals conceded).
- Frenkie de Jong has attempted (91) and completed (85) more passes than in any other game for Barcelona in all competitions.
- Jordi Alba has made 55 assists in 316 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, only one of them as a substitute, today against Ibiza.
- The average age of Barcelona’s starting XI against UD Ibiza was 25 years and 22 days, their youngest in a game this season in all competitions.
With additional reporting from Reuters
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