Which could be huge for Riqui, and for the impasse between him and Koeman, and obviously Koeman had to sign off on Riqui taking that last PK. I bet MAtS is great at PKs, but I'm glad we did not have to find out today by avoiding sudden death extra PKs.
Do you guys think Araujo will continue to start once Pique comes back? he had an amazing game today. He hasn't really put much of a foot wrong except for that mistake (against Betis was it? with the pass back). Looking like a promising player. Pedri is awesome as well. If Fati comes back to pre injury form and keeps developing along with some smart investments I don't think your future is as bleak as some make it out to be.
I think we did find out! 3 out of 5 PKs kept out while playing mind games with La Real players. Not to mention at least 2 epic saves in extra-time that I recall (I might even be forgetting one or two others). Interesting that we subbed-on Firpo late yet he still didn't take a penalty. Guess he might've taken #6.(?) After that... well, I don't know the statistics but am thinking we might've been in trouble. Busquets, Araujo, Trincao, Lenglet at penalties?
Still, RM will hammer us when Messi is not here. Probably next match. Or if Bilbao wins over RM, they also have chances to beat us as well. Messi is injured, Pedri looks exhausted (still only 18), Dembele always inconsistent... PSG is 5 weeks away.
I meant that I bet MAtS is good at shooting PKs, we all know he is pretty good defending the goal against them (and everything else). Based just on how damn talented he is with the ball at his feet, plus how calm and cold blooded he seems to be largely from being on the other side of so many PKs. This was Barca's first PK shootout since 1998, so we may never get to see MAtS take one.
Ah, got ya! Amazing that Barca went 22 years w/o a pk shootout! Guess we will see more now that the CdR is a single match knockout tournament. But its one thing to have a shootout, its another to get to the point where goalkeepers have to take a shot. And MAtS may not even play in most Copa del Rey matches. So yeah... maybe never see MAtS take one. Best chance is probably with Germany.
I don't think Messi is really injured. He's just being rested. He will play if we face LPB in the final. Against Bilbao maybe not.
Here's what Sport says: Now we are waiting to see if he will be in good shape for the final on Sunday. The information coming out of Barca is not optimistic. In the dressing room they think it’s unlikely he will be ready for the final on Sunday. https://www.sport.es/en/news/barca/everyone-waiting-on-lionel-messi-fitness-ahead-of-final-11454438 I'm guessing that it doesn't matter who we face in the final, if Messi still has muscle discomfort we won't see him play, and honestly the focus would be on making sure he is 100% before we play PSG (particularly given the large lead+games in hand Atletico have in Liga race).