Los Leones have one step in the final courtesy of securing a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg at Wanda Metropolitano earlier this month.
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Athletic Bilabo will be bidding to progress to the title-decider of the Copa del Rey when they play host to Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final tie at San Mames on Thursday. The hosts have one step in the final courtesy of securing a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg at Wanda Metropolitano earlier this month. Alejandro Berenguer’s lone goal from the penalty spot in the 25th-minute separated the two side in Madrid. Although it was Atleti’s second defeat versus Los Leones this season, Diego Simeone’s side can take confidence from the fact that they have progressed from each of their last three two-legged Copa del Rey tie against the Basque outfit.
✊ 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄. #AthleticAtleti 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/4yCqfbzuGg
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) February 28, 2024
Athletic Bilbao are heading into the match on the back of a 3-1 La Liga defeat away to Real Betis on Sunday. The Green and Whites raced to a 2-0 lead thanks to Ezequiel Avila’s 13th-minute opener and Yuri Berchiche’s 38th-minute own goal. Los Leones were reduced to 10 men after Nico Williams was sent off five minutes before the break, but Ernesto Valverde’s men pulled one back through Gorka Guruzeta’s effort on the stroke of half-time. The Green and Whites restored their two goal cushion thanks to Johnny Cardoso’s 67th-minute strike and handed Athletic Club their fifth league-defeat of the season. Moreover, the result ended their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Nevertheless, Valverde’s men are currently occupying fifth spot in the Spanish top flight standings, having collected 49 points from 26 games, just three adrift of their upcoming opponents, who are sitting at the fourth position.
Atleti, on the other hand, are going through bit of a rough patch, having won only one of their last six games in competitions. After the defeat to Athletic Club in the home-leg on February 7, Simeone’s men suffered yet another narrow 1-0 loss versus Sevilla, this time in the La Liga. Though Los Colchoneros bounced back with a 5-0 league success against Las Palmas on February 17, they were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at San Siro last week. On Sunday, Simeone’s men shared the spoils with Almeria despite taking the lead twice through Angel Correa and Rodrigo de Paul. The result extended Atleti’s winless away-run to four games in all competitions, while they have recorded just two wins from their last ten matches on the road.
Athletic Bilbao probable starting lineup: Agirrezabala, De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Garcia de Albeniz, Prados, Ruiz de Galarreta, I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams, Guruzeta
Atletico Madrid probable starting lineup: Oblak, Llorente, Savic, Witsel, Hermoso, Lino, De Paul, Koke, Barrios, Correa, Morata
Athletic Bilbao
| Opponents | Score |
| Betis | 3-1 (L) |
| Girona | 3-2 (W) |
| Almeria | 0-0 (D) |
| Atletico Madrid | 0-1 (W) |
| Mallorca | 4-0 (W) |
Atletico Madrid
| Opponents | Score |
| Almeria | 2-2 (D) |
| Inter | 1-0 (L) |
| Las Palmas | 5-0 (W) |
| Sevilla | 1-0 (L) |
| Athletic Bilbao | 0-1 (L) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid | 0-1 |
| Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid | 2-0 |
| Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao | 1-0 |
| Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao | 0-1 |
| Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid | 2-0 |
The Copa del Rey fixture between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid will take place at San Mames on Friday at 2:00 am IST.
| Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid | Key Details |
| Date | February 29 (Spain) |
| Venue | San Mames |
| Kickoff time in Spain | 9:30 pm (Tuesday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 2:00 am (Wednesday) |
Football fans in India can live stream the game through FanCode. Meanwhile, those in Spain can catch the live action via Movistar network and fubo TV Espana.
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