GRANADA: Down by two goals with two minutes left, Barcelona finally showed the character of champions again.

Antoine Griezmann scored two goals and provided two assists as Barca staged a stunning last-gasp comeback before beating Granada 5-3 away after extra time on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, giving fans hope that the club won’t go two straight seasons without a trophy.

Granada, though, came within a whisker of another huge upset as goals from Robert Kenedy and Roberto Soldado in either half put them 2-0 up with two minutes of normal time remaining.

But Griezmann, who had surrendered the ball in the build-up to Soldado’s goal, pulled Barca back into contention in the 88th minute and then set up Jordi Alba’s stoppage-time equaliser with a glancing header which the defender nodded home.

There were more swings in extra time as Griezmann’s firm header in the 100th minute put Barcelona ahead, but a penalty committed by American defender Sergio Dest led to Fede Vico’s equaliser for the hosts three minutes later.

Frenkie de Jong put Barcelona ahead for good from close range after Lionel Messi’s shot was saved in the 108th. Alba closed the scoring with a stunning volley from Griezmann’s cross in the 113th.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2021