Athletic Bilbao ride on Williams brothers heroics to cruise into Copa del Rey final with a stunning victory over Atletico Madrid

Athletic Bilbao clinched their spot in the Copa del Rey final with a commanding 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at Estadio San Mames. Holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, the hosts took firm control of the matchup with first-half goals from siblings Nico and Inaki Williams.

Gorka Guruzeta added a third goal sixty minutes into the game, ensuring Athletic's progression to the final, where they will face Real Mallorca.

𝗬𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗦𝗦𝗦𝗦𝗦𝗦!!!! 𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢!!!! 🥳

Athletic defeat @atletienglish in both legs to qualify for another Copa final!

Fantastic, Lehoiak! Enjoy it, Athleticzales!#AthleticAtleti #AthleticClub pic.twitter.com/1z24HoCf0h

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) February 29, 2024

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The visitors created an early opening when Samuel Lino’s effort was straight at Bilbao keeper Julen Agirrezabala.

Bilbao broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Nico Williams got to the left goalline and chipped a lofted cross back through the penalty area and his brother Inaki crashed home a volley.

The Williams brothers soon combined again, this time Inaki fed Nico on the wing and his shot flew narrowly wide of the right post.

Unbelievable, Iñaki! @willliamsssnico sends it in and the forward hits home a wonderful volley!

The 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀 connection!

1-0 I #AthleticAtleti #AthleticClub pic.twitter.com/XJlJ5TQuaj

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) February 29, 2024

 

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Atletico pushed for a response as Angel Correa fired over the crossbar after being picked out by Alvaro Morata’s pass.

There was a brief stoppage in play around the 35th minute as a spectator needed medical treatment in the stands, but the game soon resumed.

Bilbao doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Inaki Williams was played clear down the right and held off Atletico defender Mario Hermoso before cutting the ball back for Nico to stab in from close range.

Time to fight back. pic.twitter.com/dfMTy9YFTf

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 29, 2024

The start of the second half saw another delay for a different fan in the record crowd of 52,061 packed into the Cathedral to receive medical assistance, eventually being carried away on a stretcher.

Athletic Bilbao later confirmed the person had been struggling to breathe, but was stabilised and taken to hospital.

When the action restarted, Nico Williams was soon involved again to send Oihan Sancet clear on goal, but his shot was fired well over the crossbar.

¡¡𝑭𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑳 𝑫𝑬𝑳 𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑰𝑫𝑶!!

¡¡EL @AthleticClub SACA SU BILLETE PARA LA FINAL DE LA #CopaDelRey!!

¡¡𝙀𝙉𝙃𝙊𝙍𝘼𝘽𝙐𝙀𝙉𝘼!!

@AthleticClub 3-0 @Atleti (4-0)

El trofeo está listo para el 6 de abril -#LaCopaMola pic.twitter.com/qTINkLGQTP

— RFEF (@rfef) February 29, 2024

Atletico boss Diego Simeone tried to spark some life into his side with a triple change after 54 minutes, with Memphis Depay, Reinildo Mandava and Pablo Barrios sent on to replace Nahuel Molina, Hermoso and Correa.

Any hopes of a comeback, though, were ended in the 61st minute when Guruzeta knocked in a rebound after Sancet’s angled effort had been pushed out by Madrid keeper Jan Oblak.

Depay’s angled free-kick was acrobatically saved by Agirrezabala before Saul Niguez headed wide as Bilbao saw out the closing stages to reach the Copa del Rey final at La Cartuja for the first time since 2021.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Sports Tak Staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

 

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