Madrid, Feb 4: It took a goal near the end for Athletic Bilbao to finally get the better of Real Madrid and reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals for the third straight season.
Álex Berenguer scored in the 89th minute to give Athletic a 1-0 victory in the quarter-final at San Mamés Stadium on Thursday, ending a three-match losing streak for the Basque Country team against Madrid.
It was the fourth meeting between the clubs in two months, with Madrid winning in the final of the Spanish Super Cup last month in Saudi Arabia and twice in Spanish league matches in December.
Athletic reached the last two Copa finals, losing to Basque Country rival Real Sociedad in 2020 and Barcelona last season.
Madrid, the only top club still left after Barcelona and Atlético Madrid were eliminated in the last 16, hasn’t made it to the semi-finals since 2018-19, when it lost to Barcelona.
It hasn’t won the competition since 2014.
Real Betis earlier on Thursday won 4-0 at Sociedad and returned to the last four for the first time since 2018-19.
Madrid was without striker Karim Benzema because of a muscle injury, but Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Casemiro — who arrived from international duty with Brazil on Wednesday — were in the starting lineup.
Vinícius was substituted early in the second half.
Madrid struggled in attack without Benzema and with Vinícius far from his best form.
It was a bad pass by Casemiro in defence that led to Athletic’s late winner — a well-placed shot by Berenguer from inside the area.
On Wednesday, 2019 champion Valencia reached its second Copa semi-final in four years by defeating Cádiz 2-1, while Rayo Vallecano made the last four for the first time in four decades by beating Mallorca 1-0. (AP)
