The white youth is the first finalist of the 71st edition of the Copa del Rey, which will be held on Saturday, March 11. Real Madrid was able to overcome with a lot of work and with the great performance of its full-backs, Yusi and David Jiménezto Athletic, who showed grit and good football at all times. Nico Paz managed to open the goal of a Mikel Santos who was the great protagonist for their saving interventions. Those from Arbeloa start an important week in the fight for the first titles of the season with good feelings and Now they expect a rival in the final (Deportivo or Almera).
From the start of the game, the scoring minutes were non-existent and that is the beauty of the category. Neither set proposed to speculate and sought to open the scoring as soon as possible. The outstanding man of the first half was, without a doubt, the Athletic goalkeeper, Mikel Santos. Thanks to his interventions, as in two hand in hand before Palacios and Gonzalo, managed to keep the Basques alive in the first quarter of the match. That open match moment caused Llopis’ pupils, with Olabarrieta or Vicandi as protagonistswill take advantage of the recoveries in the center of the field to mount dizzying fits in which they threatened the area of Pieiroalthough they did not force its participation.
The whites, without success
The inaccuracy in the last Madrid pass He gave the key to a team with great potential in attack that had to be stopped. And the best way was to take over the offensive again to close the ‘lions’ in their fiefdom. The goal seemed to have a white color due to the numerous chances generated by the pupils of arbeloa. The sides, Yusi and David Jiménezthey centered balls over and over again, but incomprehensibly, due to the quality they possess, the Manuel Ángel, César Palacios or Nico Paz They sent the leather out of the Bilbao goal.
Only in the final minutes did the rojiblancos try to shake off the white dominance by picking up speed again after some recovery, although barely testimonial before the Defensive solvency of those from Arbeloa. The resolution was left for the second part.
Great goal from Nico Paz
The vertiginous outburst of the Bilbaons with two very clear occasions against Pieiro that they narrowly went outside caused uncertainty among Arbeloa’s men. The inaccuracies and unwise decisions of the madridistas they made them miss shots over and over again that in other matches were counted as a goal. The game opens at times.
But the whites continued to have faith in the Yusi’s magnificent centers, because in him was the path of victory. As, a cross of his at 59′ He was left behind by Pol, who saw Nico Paz arrive powerfully and he had no mercy to fire a strong shot. that inevitably ended in a goal. Madrid managed to surpass the goal of Mikel Santos and get ahead on the scoreboard.
Second goal for the final pass to the final
The ‘lions’ lived up to their nickname and revolted at the conceded goal. The changes gave more claw to those of Llopis and Asier Hierro, recently entered the field, was about to get the tie. The semifinal was not closed and the madridistas rushed to look for a new goal.
Gonzaloon two occasions, ran into the magisterial Mikel Santos and with the stick, preventing Real Madrid from sealing a victory that had to wait until 80′ to make it 0-2. A great play by david jimenez by the right side ends in an own goal ander fernandez. The goalkeeper’s rebound collided with the rojiblanco defender and ended up inside the net. It was the amount of tranquility that the Cup final was worth for those from Arbeloa.
Technical sheet of Athletic 0-2 Real Madrid
Athletic (5-3-2): Mikel Santos; Plazaola (75′ Osipov), Ander Fernndez, David Arredondo (82′ Barck), Mikel Montero, Asier Palacios; Olabarrieta, Peio Canales (65′ Asier Hierro), Vicandi; Gaizka, Vizcay (65′ Huestamenda).
Coach: Bittor Llopis.
R. Madrid (4-3-3): Diego Pieiro; David Jimnez, Jacobo, Manu Serrano, Yusi; Nico Paz (74′ Hugo de Llanos), Chema, Manuel Angel; Pol Fortuny (86′ Innkeeper), Palacios (74′ Yeray), Gonzalo (86′ lvaro Gins).
Coach: Alvaro Arbeloa.
Goals: 0-1: Nico Paz (59′); 0-2: Ander Fernndez (80′) (pp).
referee: Guillermo Cueto Friend (Col. Castellano-Leons). I admonish Chema (75′) and Gaizka (92′) with a yellow card.
Stadium: Kingdom of Len (1,575 spectators).
