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An exciting eight-goal thriller at Granada's Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes was settled in extra-time, with Barcelona booking their spot in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey.
The two sides had met in a La Liga fixture at the start of the year where Barcelona ran riot in a 4-0 victory away from home. The visitors came into this game in fine form and had the better of the early exchanges.
Granada, however, got a lead against the run of play after Samuel Umtiti's error saw Alberto Soro square the ball into the box for Kenedy to tap home from six yards.
This gave the hosts a one-goal advantage at the break, and they doubled their lead immediately after the restart. A long ball by Angel Montero caught the Barcelona defence out, allowing Roberto Soldado to run straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The former Valencia man made no mistake, with a precise finish giving Granada a 2-0 advantage. The status quo was maintained until the dying minutes of the game. However, just when it seemed like Granada had booked their place in the last four, Barcelona turned the game on its head in the final two minutes.
A lofted pass to the back-post by Lionel Messi saw Antoine Griezmann stretch to get his left foot on the ball. His shot incredulously came off the post and deflected off Granada goalkeeper Aaron Escandall into the net.
This halved the deficit and with just two minutes left in regulation time, it added an extra spring in the steps of Barcelona.
Lionel Messi did well to create space for himself in injury time before seeing his shot rebound off the post. Martin Braithwaite headed over from the next sequence of play but there was still time for more drama.
In the second minute of added time, Messi once again sent a routine long pass to the back post. Just when it seemed like he had overhit his pass, Griezmann appeared to nod the ball back into the danger zone for Jordi Alba to draw Barcelona level.
Incredibly, Granada still had a final chance to win the game in normal time, as a perfectly weighted through-ball by Darwin Machis saw Luis Suarez race through one-on-one with Ter Stegen.
The Granada forward, however, fluffed his lines by shooting wide to ensure that the game would be decided by extra-time.
It was a breathtaking end to an exciting game, and the extra half hour continued right from where regular time left off.
A short corner-kick routine saw Jordi Alba swing a cross into the box, and Griezmann was on hand to head Barcelona ahead for the first time in the game.
Straight from kickoff, Granada won a penalty after Sergino Dest felled Carlos Neva in the area and despite heavy protests, VAR upheld the decision.
Fede Vico made no mistake from 12 yards out to ensure both sides were level after the first half of extra-time.
Three minutes into second period, a right-footed shot by Lionel Messi was parried into the path of Frenkie de Jong, and the Netherlands international made no mistake from close range.
There were mild protests for offside, but replays showed that the 23-year-old was onside in the buildup to the goal.
Barcelona made sure of the result through Alba five minutes later. An outside-of-the-boot cross by Griezmann saw the Spain international finish with an empathic volley past the dive of Escandell.
The win sees the Blaugrana progress to the last four. Here are five talking points from a highly thrilling game in Andalusia.
#5 Barcelona's quest for a trophy continues
Barcelona's inconsistent start to the La Liga season, coupled with Atletico Madrid's near-invincibility, had all but ruled the Blaugrana out of the title race.
They are also some way off the levels required to win the UEFA Champions League. Having also lost the final of the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey represented their best berth to a trophy this term.
The early ousters of rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid further strengthened their stand, although Sevilla and potentially Athletic Bilbao might still prove tough hurdles to scale.
The Catalans ended 2020 without a trophy, and consecutive trophyless campaigns is practically unthinkable at a club like Barcelona.
With two minutes to go, it looked like Barcelona were on their way to yet another trophyless campaign. However, a massive turnaround has kept them in the hunt for a record-extending 30th cup triumph.
#4 Even in victory, Barcelona still have questions to answer
Barcelona have been in fine form in recent weeks, but this game against Granada has helped expose the bubble the club was floating in.
Granted, the Blaugrana picked up the victory to progress to the semi-final, but questions are bound to be asked of why they made hard work of the game.
These are the kind of fixtures that Barcelona won with consummate ease in the past. Why the Blaugrana needed two late goals to force extra-time against Granada is a question that does little to ease the pressure on Ronald Koeman.
The visitors had been comfortable for the entirety of the game but were let down by loss of concentration, with defensive errors almost costing them victory.
Time and again, the Barcelona defence was caught out by route-one balls over the top and would have been eliminated in the final minute had Suarez shown more composure.
#3 Man-of-the-match Antoine Griezmann continues impressive recent run of form for Barcelona
Antoine Griezmann's time at Barcelona has been filled with several ups and downs. However, the France international has hit a purple patch since the turn of the year.
He scored a brace and assisted one in the 4-0 victory over Granada in January and was on hand to put El Graná to the sword once again.
The 29-year-old ended the night with one goal and two assists as well as forcing an own goal. All his contributions showcased his growing confidence in the side.
His anticipation and determination to get on the end of Messi's pass played a key role in his side's first goal. And although there was an element of luck to the goal, the former Real Sociedad man very much created his own luck.
Barcelona's equaliser came in almost the same fashion, as a similar pass by Messi was headed into the area by Griezmann for Jordi Alba to force extra-time.
Both men once again combined for their side's fourth and fifth, interchanging between scoring and providing for one another.
The technique required for Antoine Griezmann to produce the cross for Barcelona's fifth underlined his incredible ability. Although Alba also deserves praise for his sumptuous finish, equal veneration should go to Barcelona's number 7 for pulling off such a difficult skill with relative ease.
His returns against Granada means that Griezmann has now scored seven goals and provided six assists from his last 10 games in all competitions.
The Catalans paid top dollar to sign the forward in 2019 ,and they knew they were getting a world-class player capable of illuminating Camp Nou. After 18 months of hits and misses, the France international is finally coming through.
#2 Copa tournament changes continues to provide drama
Mounting disinterest in the early stages of the Copa del Rey saw the Spanish football federation (RFEF) make drastic changes to the tournament schedule and format.
The number of entrants was expanded to 125 teams, and all ties were changed to single games until a two-legged semi-final.
Most crucially, all ties between sides in different leagues were played at the home of the teams in the lower tier. This gave regional and provincial teams the opportunity to host world-class superstars.
The 2019-20 edition of the tournament was the first to implement these changes, and it saw several dramatic moments recorded.
Real Madrid and Barcelona suffered early exits, marking the first time that the Clasico rivals did not make the semifinal of the tournament in 10 years.
This season, it has been more of the same, with Real and Atletico Madrid already eliminated, while the Blaugrana were two minutes away from joining their fellow giants.
Furthermore, this new change sees all teams give their all in 90 minutes, knowing there might not be a second chance at glory.
In previous editions, it was not uncommon to see bigger sides field weakened teams in first legs (usually played at the home of the lower team), safe in the knowledge that they could bring on their big guns to turn the ties around in the return fixture.
Such rules would have denied us this classic at Nuevo Los Carmenes. Barcelona might not have pushed on for the equaliser in injury time, knowing a one-goal deficit was not too difficult to overcome at Camp Nou.
We might not have had the luxury of seeing Lionel Messi and other key players in action. However, the new tournament change to the Copa del Rey ensured we witnessed an all-time classic.
#1 Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Lionel Messi had his imprints on the game
Beyond his current off-field drama, Lionel Messi continues to be a difference-maker on the field for Barcelona.
Against Granada, the 33-year-old was at his creative best to ensure his side turned the tie around away from home.
It was his pass to the back post that allowed Antoine Griezmann half the deficit, and he hit the post soon after that. Another inch-perfect cross to the backpost saw his teammate head back into the box for the leveller.
Lionel Messi continued to make a mark in extra-time, winning the corner from which Barcelona went 3-2 up. His saved shot was parried into Frenkie de Jong's path to put Barcelona ahead once again.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner was, however, not done. His cleared shot off the line was followed by Griezmann setting Jordi Alba up for the final goal of the night.
Even though he did not get on the scoresheet himself, Lionel Messi had a hand in all five Barcelona goals, once again highlighting his overwhelming importance to the side.
