Athletic, to the final of the Cup
Euskaraz irakurri: Athletic, Kopako finalera
Athletic has qualified for the Cup final of the King of the 2023-24 season, this Thursday, by eliminating Atlético Madrid in the semifinalswith a global marker of 4-0. Ernesto Valverde’s team has completed in San Mamés, in the second leg, on a night for history, the victory (0-1) they obtained in the first leg, and, With goals from Iñaki and Nico Williams and Guruzeta, he defeated his rival again, 4-0thus getting your ticket for the finalin which will face Mallorca on April 6.
As has been said, it was a match that the red and white fans will keep in their memories. Athletic has obtained the victory in a deserved and clear way. With a very solid game, with speed and strength, the Biscayan squad has surpassed a great rival like Atlético Madrid, and has filled the stands of San Mamés with joy and excitement, who experienced a great party in the second half, when the score was already very favorable for his players.
Athletic has obtained a deserved victory against Atlético Madrid. Photo: EFE.
Iñigo Lekue has finally left in the starting eleven that Ernesto Valverde has prepared, on the left, in defense. Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Beñat Prados have formed the midfield, and, for the attack, Athletic has opted for the quartet completed by Iñaki and Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta. For Atlético Madrid, Diego Llorente has been chosen for the wide zone, with Koke and Rodrigo de Paul.
Great goal from Williams, at 1-0
So things are, the ball has started rolling with a spectacular atmosphere as witness. Atlético Madrid started the match a little better than Athletic. The Madrid team has tested the firmness of Agirrezabala in two shots inside the area without any major danger, because the young goalkeeper, the one from the Cup for Ernesto Valverde, has dissipated it without problems.
But The first arrival of Athletic has already begun to decide the matchand to make the tie already very difficult for the colchoneros, because it ended in goal. Sancet has opened Nico On the left wing, the little one of the saga has rushed to the baseline and his center has sent him his brother to the network on the other side. A spectacular goal, which Athletic, Sancet and the Williams came close to repeating a quarter of an hour later, although with the roles changed: again Sancet opened up one of the brothers, this time to Iñaki, and the elder’s center The little one finished it off, bitten from the front, but licking the stick.
Between chance and chance for Athletic, approaches without too much danger from Atlético Madrid; but neither Llorente nor Correa, in two very high shots, have been equal to the balls received, nor has Correa himself been able to give the right force to a self-pass in the area with which he had surpassed a red-and-white defender .
Iñaki for Nico, at 2-0; Guruzeta has rounded the score
Atlético Madrid has not taken advantage of their arrivals, and has received the punishment of another goal from Athletic. It was somewhat similar to the first, with a sublime Iñaki Williams. Once again Sancet opened the wing, Iñaki got rid of Hermoso, and reached the baseline, before making a perfect cross to his brother, who was waiting for him at the near post, and he finished it as he should, going ahead to Molina.
The break, which was extended due to the second break so that a spectator in the stands could be attended to, has not changed the tone of the match. What’s more, it has had an impact on him. Nico started threatening again, with a weak shot, Sancet, finishing high on a counter in which Nico left the ball to him, and Guruzeta, who opened even more of a gap on the scoreboard, in the 61st minute: Oblak did not save a cross shot from Sancet, and Guruzeta, on the move, hit the net with what was his twelfth goal of the season, his second in the Cup.
Correa had previously shot too cross and Simeone had done the rest with three substitutions at the same time, which did not help him. With the tie already decided, the last third of the match has served for the party to have exploded in San Mamés, and for Julen Agirrezabala to make it clear to Valverde, once again, that he can count on him as much as he wants, with three great interventions with shots from Lino, Memphis and Riquelme. Saúl also had a close call to make it 3-1, with a header that narrowly went wide, before the end of the match began the celebration in the Bilbao stadium.
Data sheet
3 – Athletic: Agirrezabala; De Marcos (Yeray, d. 89), Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; Galarreta (Dani García, d. 68), Vesga; Iñaki Williams (Berenguer, m. 80), Sancet (Unai Gómez, m. 80), Nico Williams; and Guruzeta (Raúl García, d. 89).
0 – Atlético Madrid: Oblak; Nahuel Molina (Barrios, d. 54), Savic, Witsel, Hermoso (Reinildo, d. 54), Lino (Riquelme, d. 72); Llorente, Koke (Saúl, d. 65), De Paul; Correa (Memphis, d. 54) and Morata.
Goals: 1-0, m. 13: Iñaki Williams. 2-0, m. 42: Nico Williams. 3-0, m. 61: Guruzeta.
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Valencian Committee). Yellow card to Ruiz de Galarreta, Muniain, Lekue and De Marcos, by Athletic, and to Hermoso, by Atlético Madrid.
Incidents: second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, played in San Mamés before 52,061 spectators, a record in the stadium.
Source: Eitb
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.
