Euskaraz irakurri: Athleticek azken bost urteotako hirugarren finalerako sailkatzea nahi du, San Mamesen, Atletico Madril aurkari

He Athletic will search in San Mamesthis Thursdaystarting at 9:30 p.m.his third Copa del Rey final in the last five seasons, the sixth in the last sixteen campaignsbefore him Atletico Madridin it second leg of the Cup semi-finals of this 2023-24 season. Ernesto Valverde’s team comes into this clash with a one-goal advantage, after the 0-1 in the first leg; A spectacular atmosphere is expected at the Athletic stadium and throughout Bilbaofor a match in which Yuri Berchiche, at Athletic, and Antoine Griezmann, at Atlético Madrid, will be absent due to injury. EITB, through eitb.eus and ETB1, will offer the match live, in addition to a previous program, starting at 8:55 p.m., and another later, once the match has concluded..

In this context, The red and white team wants to advance to the final, which is something that has not been able to materialize in the previous two campaigns, in which it was eliminated from the championship in this semifinal round, against Valencia (2021-22) and Osasuna (2022-23). Since 2009, after 24 years without success, the Bilbao squad qualified for the final again, Athletic has reached the final match on four other occasions (2012, 2015, 2020, played in 2021, and 2021). The Biscayan team has not managed to win any of those finals to which it has managed to reach, and is now seeking to eliminate Atlético Madrid to play a new edition of the final match, in which Mallorca is already waiting, which eliminated Real Sociedad this Tuesday in the penalty shootout.

Ernesto Valverde, the Athletic coach, will not be able to field, in addition to Yuri Berchiche, Ander Herrera, also injured. It is taken for granted that Julen Agirrezabala, the starting goalkeeper of the Cup, in which he is putting in excellent performances, will repeat between the sticks, and Iñigo Lekue, if he has finally recovered from his discomfort and can play, will be lined up on one of the two sides of the defense. In the midfield, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Beñat Prados could repeat from the start, although Mikel Vesga also has options to accompany the Eibartarra, and it is expected that in attack Oihan Sancet, Iñaki and Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta, regular starters in the red-and-white team’s offense. Álex Berenguer, who is in good shape, could also be among those chosen by Valverde for the starting team.

At Atlético Madrid, the absence of Antoine Griezmann is very important, given that he is the most dangerous and brilliant man of Diego Simeone’s men in the attack line. The forecast is that his replacement in the starting team will be Ángel Correa, scorer of three goals in the last three official matches, and that Álvaro Morata will also start, with Memphis Depay waiting on the bench. There is also the alternative of Marcos Llorente, who, in principle, points to the starting right lane. José María Giménez, Thomas Lemar and César Azpilicueta are also out.

The one that will be played this Thursday in San Mamés will be the third game in which both teams face each other so far this season. Athletic has won the first two, 2-0 in LaLiga EA Sports, in December, in Bilbao, and 0-1 in the first leg, three weeks ago. Valverde’s men have won nine in a row at their stadium, including League and Cup games, but they are playing against a team, Atlético Madrid, who, since Simeone coached them, has won six of the thirteen games they have played. He has played in San Mamés.

Athletic-Atlético Madrid, second leg of the Cup semifinals (San Mamés, this Thursday, at 9:30 p.m.)

Probable lineups:

Athletic: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados or Vesga; Iñaki Williams, Sancet, Nico Williams; and Guruzeta.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Witsel, Hermoso, Lino; De Paul, Koke, Barrios; Correa and Morata.

Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Valencian Committee); VAR referee: Eduardo Prieto Iglesias (Navarro Committee).

Source: Eitb

Kingston

Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.