Athletic Club 4-2 Barcelona (aet): Player ratings as Xavi’s side crash out of Copa del Rey

for the love of the game

Player ratings: Barcelona failed to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals for the third time in five seasons on Wednesday night, falling to a 4-2 extra-time defeat to Athletic Club in the last eight.

‘Not me, it’s you’ – Rasmus Hojlund promises to be the player Man United thought they were buying 15/09/2025
Rasmus Hojlund is already promising to be the next Manchester United flop that have managed to go on and succeed elsewhere. That is the verdict of European football expert Andy Brassell, who stated the Dane has ‘immediately clicked’ on loan at Napoli. Hojlund scored just 14 minutes into his Napoli debut against FiorentinaGetty Hojlund needed […]
Pep Guardiola told to release Man City star he once said wouldn’t be sold for €500m 12/09/2025
Pep Guardiola has been told to let Phil Foden leave Manchester City if he’s not going to be first-choice once he returns from injury. That’s the opinion of talkSPORT host Alan Brazil, who argued the England international is better than the other options at the Etihad. If Foden can rediscover his 2023/24 form, he could […]
Michael Owen tips Liverpool star for ‘player of the season’ despite claims he’s ‘forgotten his joy’ 10/09/2025
Michael Owen has claimed that there is no question about Florian Wirtz’s talent following scrutiny over the start to his Liverpool career. The Reds broke the British transfer record twice this summer, first doing so to sign the German in a deal worth £116.5million in June. Wirtz has shown signs of feeling the pace of […]
Barcelona isn’t the right choice for Marcus Rashford despite club rubbishing Manchester United return rumours 08/09/2025
Marcus Rashford made a mistake joining Barcelona because he won’t be given the game time to properly rebuild himself. That is the opinion of European football expert Andy Brassell, who argued that the Catalans can’t meet the England star’s needs. Rashford needs gametime to return to his top levelGetty Rashford showed flashes of quality but […]
‘Historic transfer’ – Polish side signed Arsenal graduate from Premier League team named biggest loser of summer window 08/09/2025
Leeds were named the big losers of this summer’s shopping spree – and it could be even worse as one transfer is eyeing history. talkSPORT Breakfast host Jeff Stelling argued the Whites have had the worst window, with one former star now hoping to become a household name abroad. talkSPORT host Stelling did not hold […]
‘Not worth it’ – Newcastle told they overspent on Alexander Isak replacement 07/09/2025
Bayern Munich’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, has delivered a scathing swipe at Newcastle over the signing of Nick Woltemade. The Bundesliga champions were heavily interested in the German striker prior to his club-record £69million move to the Magpies. Newcastle replaced Isak with Woltemade The deal eclipsed the £63m Newcastle forked out to sign Alexander Isak in 2022, […]