Intercity 3-4 Barcelona (AET): Ansu Fati spares Catalan blush in Copa del Rey thriller

Ansu Fati took Barcelona to the last 16 of the Spanish Cup but only after Oriol Soldevila, a 21-year-old who had spent two seasons in Birmingham City’s development team, scored a hat-trick against them to put the game into extra time.

Alicante-based CF Intercity play in Spain’s third division and didn’t stand a chance against a Barcelona side with many international players, but Soldevila had others, scoring three goals against a club he had played for before joining as a rising U18 star performances in England.

Barcelona got to the top of La Liga; Intercity is ranked 16th in its third-rate regional group and has only been in existence for five years. None of that mattered as Xavi’s side struggled in defense and Soldevila played the game of his life.

Ansu Fati spared Barcelona’s blush after they needed extra time to beat Minnows Intercity

Things started well for Barcelona as Ronald Araujo needed just four minutes to make his comeback with a goal after almost 100 days out through injury.

Pablo Torre swung over a corner and the defender threw himself at it, sending a header past Gaizka Campos just under the bar. Araujo excelled on both ends.

Intercity had the best chance as Oriol Soldevila put through Aaron Pinan. He ran off the halfway line with the ball at his feet – his problem was that the Uruguayan ran with him and he slid in to save the ball just a yard from the goal line.

Barcelona struggled to score the second goal, with Ferran Torres most responsible for missed chances.

He lingered too long on the ball in the Intercity penalty area to squander Barca’s first chance of the second half and after that miss they almost scored through Aaron.

Barcelona were yelled at by the home fans. Intercity only has around 1,000 season ticket holders.

The game at the nearby Hercules stadium brought them a huge payday, but it also meant the stadium was packed with Barça supporters from Alicante.

Those fans were stunned in the 59th minute as Martin Bellotti leapt over Araujo and Jules Kounde and headed at the back post where Torres couldn’t stop Barcelona-born Soldevila from scoring.

Xavi fielded Raphinha, Eric Garcia and Gavi for Pablo Torre, Torres and Araujo. It was changes planned in front of goal but Xavi then sent Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati to warm up. He suspected the catastrophe – Dembele would prevent it.

Gavi threaded the ball through and the French winger shot clear, pulling the keeper and cutting over him to score his sixth goal of the season for Barcelona.

Ronald Araujo gave Barcelona a quick start by breaking through the deadlock insider for four minutes

The Barca centre-back gave his side a quick start to a dominant first half

Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena celebrates Araujo’s goal in the Copa del Rey clash

He’s the player Xavi has always defended and he’d gotten his boss out of one hole – only for them to take a few steps forward and fall through another.

Cristo Romero whipped the ball in from the left and Soldevila was back to make it 2-2 in front of Jordi Alba, who resisted no more than Torres on the opening goal.

Alba immediately made amends with one of those crosses from the left that arrive gift-wrapped at the back post for anyone who ran to goal. Raphinha was the receiver and put Barça back in front 3-2.

However, Oriol Soldevila (right) scored his first goal on the hour to equalize for Intercity

Ousmane Dembele briefly restored Barcelona’s lead eight minutes later with a lob

Gavi (No. 30) and Memphis Depay celebrate with Dembele after he restored Barca’s lead

Fati was in action now – he had played the ball out to Alba’s third goal – and he almost scored four goals when he shot into the side netting.

Intercity were struggling, however, and after a wall pass with Miguel Mari in the box, an inspired Soldevila saved Inaki Peña’s shot. He had been denied a hat-trick, but not for long.

Intercity’s next chance to score saw Christian Herrera knock off substitute Marcos Alonso and quickly pass it to Soldevila, who this time defeated Pena at his near post.

Soldevila got his brace eight minutes later to pull Intercity back into the third round

Fati scored in extra time just before half-time to put Barcelona ahead for the fourth time

Intercity forward Aaron Pinan tries to sprint past Araujo during a rare attack in the first half

Intercity’s performance was impressive, some of the spectators who had come with Barcelona scarves now wanted the minnows to do the impossible.

In extra time, Barcelona took the lead for the fourth time of the game when Raphinha’s cross from the right was met by Fati for the first time. It took a distraction to send it past Campos and this time Intercity stayed down, eventually beaten.

However, Barca’s blush was far from saved – the defensive mistakes will deepen in the coming days. If they repeat, Xavi will again end a season without a trophy.