Espanyol 0-2 Athletic Club: Pericos fall short in Copa semi
Barcelona woke up on Wednesday morning dreaming of a Barça-Espanyol final in the Copa del Rey, but only one half of the city kept their side of the bargain — you don't have to be Stephen Hawking to work out which side booked their passage to the May showpiece.
That's not to say Espanyol don't deserve acknowledgement for their run in this season's competition.
They saw off Champions League challengers Valencia and Sevilla in the earlier rounds, although that may make this defeat to Athletic Club in the last four even more painful.
And on Wednesday night it was pretty painful for the fans that had filled Cornella-El Prat with so much expectation.
First half goals from Aritz Aduriz and Xabier Etxeita left Sergio Gonzalez's men needing three goals — something which never looked on the cards — and set Athletic up for their third final against Barça since 2009.
Espanyol will lick their wounds and look to consolidate their position in la Liga, while Catalonia's 58 year wait for an all-Barcelona final continues.
Victor Alvarez and Felipe Caicedo had both missed chances to win the game in the first leg at San Mames and those openings must have been going through every Espanyol fan's mind when Aduriz spun and opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
He may be 34, but he has scored 17 of Athletic's 42 goals this season and the home side will have been disappointed with their failure to deal with his threat.
Christian Stuani epitomised effort as Espanyol then sought a way back into the game, throwing his body into areas and positions you wouldn't think possible, but when it came to quality in the final third he was desperately lacking.
After a mix up in the Athletic back line he fired straight at Iago Herrerin and he later directed an Anaitz Arbilla cross over the bar.
In the middle of those two opportunities, not even a near-capacity Power8 Stadium could force referee Juan Martinez Munuera to blow for a penalty when Victor Alvarez tumbled in the box.
The killer blow arrived just before the break.
Juan Fuentes's header looped behind for a corner, which Andoni Iraola landed on Etxeita's head to give the visiting side a precious second away goal.
Caicedo appeared after the break as Espanyol clicked into kitchen sink mode and his shoot soon had Herrerin scrambling, the Athletic keeper just getting enough on the ball to tip it on to the inside of his post.
Herrerin was then forced off injured, but there was no change of luck for Espanyol.
A thumping effort from Victor Sanchez was well saved by Gorka Iraizoz and there were four bodies on hand to nullify the threat of Sergio Garcia when he picked up the ball just outside the six-yard box.
