Athletic draws with Valencia and will have to achieve victory in the return leg to reach the final

Athletic Club drew 1-1 with Valencia (1-1) this Thursday, February 10 at San Mames at first leg of the King’s Cup semi-finals. Therefore, the team that achieves victory in the second leg that will be played in Mestalla in the first week of March will get the ticket for the final. The goal of the visiting team will not have double value in case the round ends with a draw.

The meeting started with a lot of rhythm and a little uncontrolled. The visiting team had the first chance in minute 4 through a shot by Hugo Duro that did not find a goal. Athletic’s response came in the 9th minute, but Raúl García shot wide after getting ahead of Alderete. Two minutes later Hugo Duro tried again with a long shot.

It was difficult for the local team to generate clear scoring chances, but in the 19th minute, Valencia was about to give the goal to its rival after a pass from Diakhaby to goalkeeper Mamardashvili that he did not control and the ball did not enter the goal for very little bit. After that mistake made by the visiting team, Athletic began to be superior and create danger. A shot by Raúl García in a messy play was cleared by a Valencia defender. Seven minutes later, Muniain took a free kick and Raúl García put the 1-0 on the scoreboard with a good finish.

Before reaching the break, the rojiblanco team was able to score another goal, although Dani García’s shot from outside the area went high. The game was hot at halftime, as several players from both teams got into a fight before leaving the field of play. In addition, in the changing room tunnel, Maxi Gómez, a substitute at Valencia, was expelled due to an altercation with one of the attending referees.

The Athletic Club coach, Marcelino García Toral, had to make a change for the start of the second half, since Yeray suffered some discomfort and was unable to continue playing. Vivian was the player who replaced him.

The start of the second half was harsh and had many interruptions. There were hardly any scoring chances. The clearest, a one-on-one match between Williams and Mamardashvili in which the Georgian goalkeeper prevailed, although he was called offside.

Valencia was not capable of harming its rival, but in an isolated play in the 65th minute, it leveled the match; an extension in the area by Foulquier at the near post and it reached Guedes, the Portuguese crossed, Bryan Gil was reborn and Agirrezabala repelled as best he could in a great save, although Hugo Duro caught the rebound in the small area to tie the match (1-1).

From then on, not much was played, Diakhaby had a good opportunity in the crazy area, Berenguer in the visitor and a fall by Hugo Duro against Vivian had San Mamés on edge for a moment. A last cross from Muniain, taking advantage of a slip by a rival, did not reach Villalibre at the far post and that is where the last local options went in a match that was, in any case, even.

Data sheet:

1 – Athletic Club: Agirrezabala; Lekue, Yeray (Vivian, m.46), Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Berenguer, Dani García (Zarraga, m.78), Vesga, Muniain; Raúl García (Sancet, m.67) and Iñaki Williams (Villalibre, m.78).

1 – Valencia: Mamardashvili; Thierry, Diakhaby, Alderete, Gayà (Lato, m.84); Foulquier, Ilaix (Racic, m.94), Carlos Soler; Hugo Duro (Marcos André, m.94), Bryan Gil (Helder Costa, m.84) and Guedes (Musah, m.75).

Goals: 1-0, m.37: Raúl García. 1-1, m.65: Hugo Duro.

Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero (Andalusian Committee). He sent off Maxi Gómez, a player who was a substitute, in the locker room tunnel after the end of the first half. In addition, he showed a yellow card to the locals Dani García (m.63), and to the visitors Foulquier (m.43), Dyakhaby (m.79) and Hugo Duro (m.90).

VAR Referee: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (Galician Committee).