The two sides are heading into the match on the back of impressive outings in the La Liga, with the hosts coming from behind to earn a thrilling 1-1 draw away to leaders Real Madrid, while the Lions thrashed Mallorca 4-0 at the weekend.
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Atletico Madrid will play host to Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie at Civitas Metropolitano on Wednesday night. The two sides are heading into the match on the back of impressive outings in the La Liga, with the hosts coming from behind to earn a thrilling 1-1 draw away to leaders Real Madrid, while the Lions thrashed Mallorca 4-0 at the weekend. Though Diego Simeone’s men will are unbeaten in their previous 13 home matches against Athletic Club, Ernesto Valverde’s side can draw confidence from the fact that they have already beaten Los Colchoneros this season, claiming a 2-0 tp flight victory when the two sides met at San Mames in December.
🏆🤩 Copa del Rey is back! pic.twitter.com/M4KMXBamiQ
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 7, 2024
Atletico Madrid will head into Wednesday’s cup clash off the back of a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, recording five successive wins in the period. Simeone’s men appeared to be heading towards their sixth league-defeat of the season on Sunday following Brahim Diaz’s first-half effort, but Maros Llorente’s 93rd-minute header earned Los Colchoneros a point at Santiago Bernabeu. Meanwhile, Atletico secured a place in the last four stage of the Copa del Rey for the first time in seven years courtesy of defeating holder Los Blancos in the quarter-final tie. Simeone’s side will be confident about making home advantage count in the mid-week clash, having avoided defeat in each of their last 28 competitive games at the Metropolitano.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, got the better of most successful team in the history of Copa del Rey, Barcelona, in the quarter-finals. Les Leones defeated Blaugrana 4-2 to book a place in the last four stage of the tournament, thanks to one effort each from Gorka Guruzeta, Oihan Sancet, Inaki Williams and Nico Williams at San Mames on January 24. Four days later, Valverde’s men were held to a goalless draw by Cadiz CF in the La Liga, but they quickly bounced back by putting four goals past Mallorca without reply on Saturday. Yuri Berchiche’s first-half brace and one effort each from Guruzeta and Ilker Munian helped Valverde’s men secure their 13th top flight victory of the campaign. They are now just three points away from the top four, having taken 45 points from 23 league games.
Atletico Madrid probable starting lineup: Oblak, Hermoso, Witsel, Reinildo, Molina, De Paul, Koke, Saul, Lino, Griezmann, Morata.
Athletic Bilbao probable starting lineup: Agirrezabala, Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche, Ruiz de Galaretta, Prados Diaz, I. Williams, Sancet, Ares, Guruzeta
Atletico Madrid
| Opponents | Score |
| Real Madrid | 1-1 (D) |
| Rayo Vallecano | 2-1 (W) |
| Valencia | 2-0 (W) |
| Sevilla | 1-0 (W) |
| Granada CF | 0-1 (W) |
Athletic Bilbao
| Opponents | Score |
| Mallorca | 4-0 (W) |
| Cadiz | 0-0 (D) |
| Barcelona | 4-2 (W) |
| Valencia | 1-0 (L) |
| Alaves | 2-0 (W) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| 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 |
| Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid | 1-2 |
The Copa del Rey fixture between Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao will take place at Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday at 2:00 am IST.
| Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao | Key Details |
| Date | February 7 (Spain) |
| Venue | Wanda Metropolitano |
| Kickoff time in Spain | 9:30 pm (Wednesday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 2:00 am (Thursday) |
Football fans in India can live stream the game through FanCode. Meanwhile, those in Spain can watch the match on fubo TV Espana, Movistar network and RTVE.es.
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