Barca take step towards Cup semis with win in Bilbao

FC Barcelona took another important step to the defense of their King's Cup title when they won the first leg of their quarter-final 2-1 away to Athletic Club Bilbao on Wednesday night.

The repeat of last year's final came just three days after Barca had punished a 10-man Athletic 6-0 in the Camp Nou and it was clear from the start Athletic's players were in no mood for a repeat of that result.

The Basques pressured Barca from the start and for the first 15 minutes the Cup holders were on the back foot until they scored with virtually their first attack of the game as Ivan Rakitic found space down the right to swing over a low cross that allowed Munir to score from eight yards out.

With Leo Messi injured and Luis Suarez suspended, Munir justified his place in the side and midway through the half Neymar also got on the scoresheet as Athletic keeper Iago Herrerin made a mess of a clearance and allowed him to slip the ball into an empty net.

The two goals left Athletic groggy and for the rest of the half they were chasing shadows as led by Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta Barca controlled the ball.

The second half was more even, although Barca always looked in control until the closing minutes when the pride of the Athletic players saw them pin them back in their own half.

Substitute Sabin Merino forced a fine save from Ter Stegen following a corner, before Aritz Aduriz gave Athletic hope in the last minute after Barca failed to clear another corner.

Sabin was inches away from an unlikely equalizer in injury time, but with Suarez and Messi to return and the return leg in front of their fans, Barca are clear favorites to reach the last four.

In the other quarter-final match played on Wednesday Celta and Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 in Vigo leaving everything to be decided next week in the Vicente Calderon. Endit