Athletic Club will contest their first Copa del Rey final in three years, having convincingly seen off Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final clash. Los Leones won 3-0 on the night, which ensured a 4-0 aggregate victory.
The build-up to proceedings at San Mames was marred by multiple unsavoury incidents, but on the pitch, the home side made a dream start as they scored inside the opening 15 minutes. Nico Williams’ cross found older brother Inaki, who emphatically volleyed past Jan Oblak to make it 1-0.
⚽ ¡¡𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗭𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢!! ¡¡Qué pedazo de volea se ha sacado Iñaki Williams para rematar el centro de su hermano!!
🆚 @AthleticClub 1-0 @Atleti | 13'
⚽️ Semifinal (vuelta)
ℹ️ Minuto a Minuto: https://t.co/CAQw8fCr6Y#LaCopaMola🏆 | #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/UPVq5FJMU5
— RFEF (@rfef) February 29, 2024
Athletic would double their lead on the night just before half time. On this occasion, it was Inaki that assisted Nico, as his cutback from turned home by the 21-year-old Spanish international, which sparked jubilant scenes among the home crowd.
⚽ ¡¡𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐋!! ¡¡LOS HERMANOS WILLIAMS INTERCAMBIAN LOS PAPELES Y AHORA ES IÑAKI EL QUE ASISTE A NICO!!
🆚 @AthleticClub 2-0 @Atleti | 42'
⚽️ Semifinal (vuelta)
ℹ️ Minuto a Minuto: https://t.co/CAQw8fCr6Y#LaCopaMola🏆 | #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/6fKXasSZU8
— RFEF (@rfef) February 29, 2024
Those goals effectively killed Atleti’s chance of a comeback, and it was dead and buried on the hour mark as the hosts grabbed a third. Oihan Sancet’s initial effort was saved by Oblak, but the ball fell to Gorka Guruzeta six yards out with the goal at his mercy, and he would make no mistake.
⚽ ¡¡𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐋!! ¡¡OBLAK SACA EL DISPARO DE SANCET PERO GURUZETA CAZA EL BALÓN SUELTO PARA ANOTAR!!
🆚 @AthleticClub 3-0 @Atleti | 61'
⚽️ Semifinal (vuelta)
ℹ️ Minuto a Minuto: https://t.co/CAQw8fCr6Y#LaCopaMola🏆 | #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/SBpubkYnbS
— RFEF (@rfef) February 29, 2024
It means that Athletic Club will face Mallorca in the final, which takes place in Sevilla later in the season. They will certainly fancy their chances of securing their 24th Copa del Rey title, and their first in exactly 40 years.
