Man Utd out of FA Cup after shoot-out at Fulham, Barcelona outclassed Real Sociedad
Man Utd left yet another competition this season after Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee failed at their penalties against Fulham during the FA Cup 5th Round. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo outclassed as Barcelona smashed Real Sociedad in La Liga.
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Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad: Dani Olmo Steals the Show
In a dominant La Liga display, Barcelona routed Real Sociedad 4-0 at home in round 26 of the 2024/25 season. Dani Olmo put on a breathtaking performance without even scoring a goal himself. Instead, the Euro 2022 champion provided two slick assists in four minutes—from the 25th to the 29th—that turned the game in Barcelona’s favor. After Lamine Yamal’s daring breakthrough, Olmo delicately passed to Gerard Martin, who calmly finished past goalkeeper Alex Remiro. Moments later, Olmo’s precise shot, which hit Marc Casado before finding the net, gave his side a double blow.
Over his 71 minutes on the pitch (before being substituted for Fermin Lopez), Olmo touched the ball 50 times and completed 35 of 38 passes—a 92% accuracy rate. He also delivered five decisive passes, created one big chance, and won two out of five one-on-one duels. Many believe that if Robert Lewandowski had made the most of the chances Olmo created, Barcelona might have added another one or two goals.
This impressive win sees Barcelona reclaim the top spot in La Liga, overtaking Atletico Madrid temporarily and widening the gap with Real Madrid by three points. Real Madrid recently suffered a bitter 1-2 defeat against Real Betis, while Atletico secured a slim 1-0 win over Bilbao, keeping the race for the title as intense as ever.
Man United 1-1 Fulham (3-4 on Penalties): Another Heartbreaking FA Cup Exit
In a dramatic FA Cup fifth-round clash, Manchester United’s hopes of silverware came crashing down as Fulham eliminated them in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. The Red Devils, with a rich FA Cup history, now join the list of former champions fading from the competition.
United took their chances early, but Fulham proved resolute. The match was tightly contested until extra time when Victor Lindelof and striker Joshua Zirkzee saw their penalty kicks saved by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno during the shootout. Fulham converted all four of their penalty attempts, while United squandered five big chances during the game. Substitutes like Alejandro Garnacho missed two clear opportunities, and 17-year-old Chido Obi let slip three others.
Fulham’s victory marks their first FA Cup win over Manchester United in 117 years, with Leno emerging as the hero—saving two penalties and making eight crucial stops throughout the match. United had managed to level the score to 1-1 through a deflected shot from Bruno Fernandes in the second half after Fulham initially took the lead with a header from central defender Calvin Bassey.
Coach Ruben Amorim expressed his frustration with the result, as his side has now been knocked out of one more competition this season. With the FA Cup dreams shattered, Manchester United now faces the prospect of going trophyless. Their only remaining hope is the Europa League, with the next match scheduled on March 6 when they travel to Real Sociedad.
Other FA Cup and League Highlights
In the FA Cup, Brighton eliminated Newcastle in a wild encounter featuring two red cards and a dramatic late goal in the 114th minute. In La Liga, Leganes secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe thanks to Diego Garcia’s stunning volley in stoppage time—a crucial win that lifted them away from the bottom of the table.
The FA Cup quarterfinal draw has also been made, with matchups set as follows:
- Fulham vs Crystal Palace
- Preston North End vs Aston Villa
- Bournemouth vs Man City
- Brighton vs Nottingham Forest/ Ipswich
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