Athletic wins, 0-1, at the Metropolitano, and takes advantage in the semifinal against Atlético Madrid
Euskaraz irakurri: Athleticek Metropolitanon irabazi du, 0-1, eta abantaila hartu du Atletico Madrilen aurkako finalerdian
He Athletic ha cattle, 0-1to the Atletico Madridin it Metropolitan Cívitasin it first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals of the 2023-24 season. Álex Berenguer has scored, from a penaltyin the 25th minute, the goal which gave victory to the Bilbao team in this first match of the tie, which It will be decided in San Mamés, in the second leg, on February 29.
The squad coached by Ernesto Valverde has completed a good performance, with a very firm game, and they take from Madrid a result that is good, but that must be ratified by Athletic in their stadium, in that second leg. The Biscayan team has taken advantage of one of its attacking plays, and has had a remarkable match in defense. Atlético Madrid has persistently sought an equalizer, but between Julen Agirrezabala, who has been very good, and his rearguard teammates have managed to keep the rival from scoring. It is Atlético Madrid’s first home defeat so far this season.
For this first leg, Ernesto Valverde has lined up an eleven with Dani Vivian and Paredes ahead of Aguirrezabala, Lekue on the right side, Prados and Ruiz de Galarreta in the center of the field and Álex Berenguer on the left side of the attackin the place it usually occupies Nico Williams, who has finally been left out of the squad.
Athletic have encountered an opponent who has taken the field with great force, and has surrounded Julen Aguirrezabala’s goal. But The Basque team soon managed to overcome it and immediately began to fight back. Vivian, with a shot from the edge of the area, made Athletic’s first shot, which went wide, in the sixth minute.
The game was even, with both teams playing with strength and determination, when Gorka Guruzeta, in the 21st minute, combined from the playmaker position with Beñat Prados, who entered the area. Reinildo tried to take the ball away from the man from Pamplona, and He has clearly knocked him down. The referee, Hernández Hernández, did not hesitate, and signaled the penalty; Alex Berenguer, with a lot of cold blood, He has transformed it to perfection.
In the 37th minute, Aitor Paredes effectively resolved an indecision by Julen Aguirrezabala, who, otherwise, appeared confident in the rest of the actions of the first half. Atlético Madrid, with Griezmann looking for finishing positions, looked for an equalizer, but Athletic reached the break ahead after good work.
After the break, Lino, in the 52nd minute, shot with his left foot, narrowly missing. Unai Gómez and Asier Villalibre have replaced Sancet and Guruzetain a section of the match in which the Madrid team pressed insistently. Ander Herrera has left for Pradosfew minutes later.
The playing time has passed, Athletic had a good opportunity to make it 0-2. Unai Gómez He shot well with his left foot from the edge of the area, and Oblak rejected his shot, leaving Villalibre to be able to finish from close range; The Gernika striker was unable to specify his shot, which went wide.
Samu Lino, who played a good game and put Athletic’s defense in difficulties, shot wide in the 69th minute, before a good counterattack by Athletic that ended in a corner. In the 77th minute, Griezmann shot from inside the area, and Agirrezabala made a great save.
The last minutes have been heart-stopping, in the Metropolitan. Iñigo Lekue was outstanding in an action in which the ball found its way into Athletic’s goal. In the middle of the siege of Atlético Madrid, Alvaro Morata has struggled with Yerayinside the area, and the Baracaldes center-back has knocked down the local team’s forward. Hernández Hernández awarded a penalty, but the VAR warned the referee that Morata was offsideat the beginning of the play, so the action came to nothing and Athletic was able to resist until the conclusion with the score in their favor.
In short, Athletic has obtained a good result in this first round, but there is a very tough game ahead to decide which team moves forward. Of course, the tie will be decided in Bilbao, in San Mamés, with the Athletic fans pushing from the stands.
Data sheet
0 – Atlético Madrid: Oblak; Nahuel Molina (Llorente m. 57), Savic, Witsel, Reinildo (Hermoso m. 46), Lino (Riquelme m. 83); Barrios (Correa m. 72), Koke, De Paul; Griezmann and Memphis (Morata m. 57).
1 – Athletic: Agirrezabala; Lekue, Dani Vivian, Paredes, Yuri Berchiche; Beñat Prados (Ander Herrera m. 60), Ruiz de Galarreta; Iñaki Williams (Yeray m. 84), Sancet (Unai Gómez m. 53), Berenguer (Vesga m. 84); Guruzeta (Villalibre m. 53).
Goal: 0-1: m. 25, Berenguer, penalty.
Referee: Hernández Hernández (Las Palmas Committee). Yellow card to Reinildo, De Paul, Prados, Vivian, Unai Gómez, Ruiz de Galarreta and to coaches Simeone and Valverde.
Incidents: First leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, played at the Cívitas Metropolitano stadium, in front of 65,029 spectators.
Source: Eitb
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