Ath Bilbao vs Atl. Madrid prediction: SPAIN: Copa del Rey betting tips on match 2024-02-28 20:30.
Athletic Bilbao are close to their first Copa del Rey final since 2020/21 after beating AtlĂ©tico Madrid 1-0 in the opening leg of this semi-final â their first H2H win in this competition since the final in 1956 (D1, L6)! But missing an opportunity to close the three-point gap between the two sides in La Liga when losing 3-1 to Real Betis on Sunday was hardly ideal preparation for this vital fixture.
Playing in their their fifth consecutive Cop del Rey semi-final (W2, L2), the Lions should feel comfortable hosting the second leg as theyâre unbeaten in 14 competitive matches at Estadio San MamĂ©s (W12, D2) including a 2-0 La Liga win over AtlĂ©tico in mid-December. Having lost just one of the last six home H2Hs overall (W4, D1), the Copa del Rey specialists are on familiar territory in more ways than one.
AtlĂ©tico won this competition more recently than Athletic (2012/13 vs 1983/84) but this is their first semi-final appearance since 2016/17 and they enter following an underwhelming 2-2 league draw with struggling AlmerĂa. As they trail leaders Real Madrid by 13 points and are 1-0 down to Inter Milan in their Champions League last 16 tie, this is likely their most realistic shot at silverware this term.
Theyâll have to do it the hard way, coming from behind and likely without the services of JosĂ© MarĂa GimĂ©nez and Antoine Griezmann, neither of whom featured against AlmerĂa â a game in which manager Diego Simeone said they were at times âweakâ and lacked âsolidityâ. That means others will have to step up if Los Colchoneros are to maintain their run of losing only one of their last six Copa del Rey away fixtures (W5).
Players to watch: Ălex Berenguer opened the scoring within the first 25 minutes in two of Athleticâs last four matches, both of which they went on to win, while AtlĂ©ticoâs Ăngel Correa has scored three times across their last three fixtures, twice between half-time and the 65th minute.
Hot streak: The side scoring first won each of the last five H2Hs âto nilâ (Athletic: W3, L2).