From Cillessen to Messi: The minute that changed the game against Real Sociedad

From Cillessen to Messi: The minute that changed the game against Real Sociedad

Just moments after Willian José was denied the chance to get Real Sociedad back in contention in the Copa del Rey quarter final, Neymar Jr's dazzling charge and Leo Messi's spot kick as good as confirmed that Barça were going through

It was the 53rd minute at the Camp Nou. Barça were playing Real Sociedad in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter final. The home side were leading 1-0 on the night thanks to Denis Suárez, and 2-0 on aggregate.

Things were going smoothly, but an away goal for the Basques would have changed things dramatically. It would have put them just a goal away from qualification and set things up for a nail-biting finale.

And Willian José had the chance to do just that when he latched onto a rebound in the Barça area. But Jasper Cillessen came to the rescue with a stunning save.

Just twenty seconds later, the action had switched to the other end. Neymar Jr went on a blazing coast-to-coast run and was right through on Real keeper Rulli when Iñigo Martínez brought him tumbling to the ground. Textbook penalty.

Leo Messi rarely gets it wrong from 11 metres and just moments after it had looked like things might be taking a turn for the worse, the Camp Nou was on its feet to celebrate what now looked like certain passage to the semi-finals!

You can relive that whole minute of tense drama in the video above.

Força Barça
Força Barça

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