Atletico de Madrid won 1 - 0 in the 1º st leg in Madrid & today travelled to the Athletic Club Bilbao stronghold of "San Mames" where Bilbao have been undefeated all season. The 2º leg match tonight was a fabulous game of epic Football with both sides totally given to their cause that final saw Atletico de Madrid win 1 - 2 in a rainy Bilbao. Atletico de Madrid will go on to meet arch city rivals Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey.
As expected Bilbao went all out in the first half to attempt to turn around the tie. Boosted by their loyal crowd, the rain & their fierce determination they suffocated Atletico de Madrid forcing goalkeeper Courtois to save his team once again. The Belgium International showed again why Chelsea FC Coach Jose Mourinho said he would return to London next season as Courtois is definitely in the Top 3 keepers of World Soccer. Things complicated themselves half way through the 1º st half when Atletico de Madrid defender Felipe Luis injuries himself & was taken off, this lessen the attacking abilities of Atletico while Bilbao attacked in waves. The inevitable Bilbao goal came in the 41st min when Aduriz headed home. It looked at this stage that Bilbao was unstoppable.
However, Atletico de Madrid in the 2º half put in a brilliant exhibition of contentious Football & midfield domination to naturalize Bilbao. The Atletico de Madrid equalizer came in the 55th min when Raul Garcia fired home & lifted the spirits of his side. Bilbao attacked & attacked while Atletico defended strongly. The cruncher came in the 85th min when an Atletico counter-attack from Diego Costa beat an offside attempt to go on & win the Bilbao goalie & score the second, the winner & the "sealer".
Atletico de Madrid is the first team to defeat Bilbao at home this season & goes into the Spanish Cup semi-finals. Final score 1-2 ( Atletico 3 -1 on aggregate)
The 1ºst leg match of the Kings Cup Q/Final went 1 - 4 to FC Barcelona over Levante. The 2º leg return match at "Camp Nou" was going to be a formality & it proved so with a "smashing" final result 5 - 1 win to FC Barcelona over Levante. That is an aggregate of 9 - 2 in Barça´s favour. The night at Barcelona was rainy & the stadium had only around 26.000 fans to see the following goals:
- Sergi Roberto ( own goal ) 9th min , 0 - 1
- Adriano 28th min , 1 - 1
- Carles Puyol 44th min, 2 - 1
- Alexis Sanchez 50th min, 3 - 1
- Alexis Sanchez 52nd min, 4 - 1
- Cesc Fabregas 68th min, 5 - 1
a crushing performance.
FC Barcelona goes into the semi-final of the Spanish Cup were they will meet the winner of tomorrows Racing de Santander - Real Sociedad quarter-final tie currently lead 3-1 by Real Sociedad.
The last mentioned Q/Final match between Racing & Real Sociedad is under threat of not being celebrated as the Racing de Santander players are on "strike" claiming their right to be paid their salaries. The Club has not paid their players for months & the players are currently determined not to play tomorrows Copa del Rey game. If so, Real Sociedad would automatically qualify.
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