Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao: 2016 Copa Del Rey Quarter-Final, Leg 2 Score

Barcelona advanced to the semi-final of the Copa del Rey after beating Athletic Bilbao, 3-1, at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night (5-2 on aggregate), courtesy of goals from Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Neymar, after Inaki Williams had given Bilbao a shock lead.

The Blaugrana remain on course to retain the cup they lifted last season as part of a treble-winning campaign, but it's more misery for Bilbao after the Basque club were vanquished by the same team that beat them in last season's final.

Barca confirmed a starting XI featuring prolific front three Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar. Struggling ex-Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen was also included, despite a poor outing in the club's last league game at Malaga:

As usual, Bilbao pinned their hopes on veteran striker Aritz Aduriz:

Bilbao made a lightning start when Williams ghosted in to put the visitors in front. Aduriz threaded a beautiful pass Williams' way on the turn.

Spanish Football writer Sergi Dominguez had offered an ominous prediction about Williams' ability to terrorise the Barca back four:

Javier Eraso should have doubled Bilbao's advantage on 15 minutes as Williams continued to create havoc. Markel Susaeta also lifted a shot over from close range as Athletic piled up promising chances.

Barcelona owned the ball in the middle, but Bilbao were threatening every time they broke, as this early stat from AS revealed:

The home side pressed forward in front of the Camp Nou crowd. But for once, there was surprisingly little in the way of a cutting edge, and the holders went in trailing at the break.

Barca equalised just seven minutes into the second half when Suarez finished from close range.

The Uruguayan capped a stylish, one-touch move that ESPN’s Dermot Corrgian described:

Suarez has been in sensational form in front of goal this season:

As OptaJose notes, the former Liverpool man has made a habit of scoring against Bilbao:

Barca wasted some excellent chances to put the tie away. Neymar and Ivan Rakitic both saw efforts saved, as the home side stepped up the pace.

A Pique header would have given Barca the lead, had it not been for Iago Herrerin’s fine form between the sticks. But Pique didn’t have to wait long before finding the net, as the centre-back soon headed in a Dani Alves cross.

Bilbao forward Sabin Merino missed a chance when through one-on-one, a miss that soon proved costly. It was Neymar who made Merino’s failure sting when he swept in Barca’s third and wrapped up the tie.

Post-Match Reaction

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique commended Bilbao's efforts, but also praised his own team's comeback:

Meanwhile, Suarez was impressed with the way his teammates pushed for the win after the early setback:

The holders are once again through to the last four, while Bilbao will just hope to avoid Barca in next year’s tournament.