Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Barcelona: Neymar, Munir ensure first-leg lead

Barcelona conceded a late goal as they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final at San Mames.

Munir El Haddadi put Barca ahead after 18 minutes and Neymar doubled the advantage shortly afterwards when goalkeeper Iago Herrerin made a mess of a clearance.

Athletic pushed for a goal in the second half and were rewarded late on as Aritz Aduriz finished after a misplaced pass from Dani Alves.

The return leg takes place at the Camp Nou next Wednesday, when Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo will also meet in the Spanish capital after drawing their first leg 0-0.

Barcelona had beaten Athletic 6-0 in La Liga at the weekend but were without the suspended Luis Suarez and the injured Lionel Messi, who picked up a knock in the league match.

Nevertheless, they took the lead after 18 minutes when Ivan Rakitic put in a brilliant cross from the right wing for Munir to turn home.

It soon got worse for Athletic as Herrerin came sliding out to deal with a pass and missed the ball, allowing Neymar to tap into the empty net.

The six-minute double took the sting out of Athletic, who had started brightly, and Andres Iniesta missed a chance for a third when he miscued a shot just inside the box.

Javier Eraso shot wide towards the end of the half and then dragged another effort past the post after the break as Barca looked content to sit on their lead and soak up the pressure.

As the flow of the game was disrupted by a string of fouls and substitutions, it looked as the visitors would hold onto their two-goal advantage.

But Athletic upped the ante in the final 10 minutes and, after Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved from Sabin Merino's header, the hosts got the breakthrough.

Alves passed out of defence to Mikel San Jose, who played it forward for Aduriz and he finished past Ter Stegen.

Athletic even went close to equalising as Aduriz's shot deflected goalwards, but Ter Stegen made a sharp save to ensure Barca maintained a lead.