Athletic Bilbao defeated Atletico Madrid, considered the "three strongest" in Spain's Primera Liga (Lariga), and reached the final of Copa del Rey (King's Cup).
Athletic Bilbao defeated Atlético Madrid 3-0 in the second leg of the 2023-2024 Copa del Rey semi-final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on the 1st .
Athletic Bilbao advanced to the final stage, with the combined score of 4-0 in the first and second games. This is the first final in three years since the 2021 event.
Athletic Bilbao, who won early by scoring consecutive goals in the 13th and 42nd minutes of the first half, scored a decisive goal by Gorka Guruseta in the 16th minute of the second half to win 3-0.
Athletic Bilbao will play its last match against RCD Mallorca, the former team of Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain). The final match will take place on June 6.
The last time Athletic Bilbao won the trophy in the King's Cup was in 1984, 40 years ago.
Athletic Bilbao has not won in 40 years, but he stood at the top 23 times until 1984.
It ranks second in this category after FC Barcelona (31 times). It is higher than Real Madrid (20 times).
Coincidentally, if Athletic Bilbao wins the title this time, it will fit into the 40-year winning cycle. Athletic Bilbao won in 1904, 1944, and 1984.
Mallorca, which is aiming to win for the first time in 21 years since 2003, has been sluggish in the league but has been on a roll in the King's Cup.
Mallorca, which suffered from the attack after Lee Kang-in left for Paris Saint-Germain France after the 2022-2023 season, is down to 16th place with only four wins in 26 games in the league. 토토사이트 추천
There is only six points difference between Kadis (18 points), who is ranked 18th in the relegation zone.
However, in the King's Cup, they defeated second-division teams in the round of 32 and 16 in turn, and in the quarterfinals, they beat Girona FC, which is considered La Liga's "sudden team," 3-2.
In the semi-final, after a close match to the penalty shootout in the second round, Kubo Takefusa, known as Lee Kang-in's close friend, beat Real Sociedad.
Athletic Bilbao is much higher in the league this season. It ranks fifth with 49 points from 26 games.
Athletic Bilbao also had high difficulty in playing in the King's Cup matches. Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona, one of the most prestigious teams in the league, 4-2 in the quarterfinals and easily beat Atlético Madrid in the semifinals.
Barcelona is third this season and Atletico Madrid is fourth.
Leading Real Madrid, which won 20 games in 26 league games, was blocked by "Madrid rival" Atletico Madrid and was eliminated in the round of 16.
As Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were also defeated by Athletic Bilbao, none of the "Lariga's three strongest teams" in this season's King's Cup were on the final stage.
