WATCH | Copa del Rey: Messi misses penalty as Espanyol snap Barcelona’s 29-game unbeaten run
Lionel Messi had a penalty saved as triple Copa del Rey holders Barcelona suffered a surprise 1-0 loss at city rivals Espanyol in a quarter-final first leg on Thursday, ending an unbeaten run of 29 games in all competitions.
Espanyol’s academy graduate Oscar Melendo crashed in the only goal of the game in the 88th minute after Messi had his spot-kick turned away by former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez earlier in the second half.
Barca had not lost to Espanyol since 2009 and this was their first defeat by their local rivals in the Cup since 1970. The last game they had lost in any competition was in the Spanish Super Cup to Real Madrid on August 16. The second leg of the tie at the Nou Camp is on January 25.
Elsewhere, Sevilla battled back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Atletico Madrid as Diego Simeone’s decision to rest number one goalkeeper Jan Oblak in favour of Miguel Angel Moya backfired.
Moya clawed a cross into his own net in the 79th minute to cancel out Diego Costa’s arrowed strike six minutes earlier, while Joaquin Correa struck the winner in the 88th to give under-fire new Sevilla coach Vincenzo …read more
