Barcelona were beaten in their opening match of 2017 as Athletic Bilbao won a warmed Copa del Rey last-16 first leg at San Mames 2-1.
Two objectives in four first-half minutes – from Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Williams – gave Athletic a 2-0 half-time lead.
Lionel Messi netted a free-kick seven minutes into the second half and hit the post with the last demonstration of the diversion as the hosts withstood a Barca siege regardless of being decreased to nine men.
Raul Garcia was sent off for two bookable offenses and Ander Iturraspe took after late on, yet Aduriz kept away from discipline regardless of seeming to catch Samuel Umtiti in the throat at a corner.
The second leg happens at the Nou Camp next Wednesday, when Luis Enrique’s holders should topple a shortfall on the off chance that they are to keep alive any desires for a record 29th Copa del Rey crown.
Genuine Madrid beat Sevilla 3-0 in their first-leg diversion on Wednesday.
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic played with high power from the begin, squeezing Barca and attempting to drive mistakes.
Mikel San Jose headed wide from an early corner, yet the best early shot tumbled to Gerard Pique, who gestured wide from Messi’s cross.
Los Leones led the pack when Garcia and Aduriz traded passes. The striker proceeded with his run and beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a looking header.
Athletic were not substance to sit back on their lead and picked up their prizes when Williams found the net with a fine strike.
Barca attempted to react before the break yet Umtiti had a shot blocked and Messi was denied by Gorka Iraizoz.
The guests twice bid for punishments in first-half stoppage time, first for a test on Neymar and afterward for one on Luis Suarez, yet their calls were expelled.
Garcia fouled Neymar right on time in the second half, giving Messi an open door. Also, the Argentina playmaker nestled into free-kick from the left, the ball skipping down off the crossbar and going too far.
Garcia got his first reserving for a foul on Messi and was sent off 20 minutes after the fact, accepting a moment yellow for a late test on Neymar.
Athletic were under weight and Messi attempted to benefit as much as possible from his side’s numerical leverage, however was barely denied a shooting opportunity. Iturraspe joined Garcia in being sent off after a foul on Neymar.
Suarez’s endeavored hurl of Iraizoz flopped before Messi hit the post late on as Barca’s offered to skip back missed the mark.