Simeone’s team, opponents of the Nerazzurri in the quarterfinals in Europe, lost the first leg of the semi-final 1-0 at home against Athletic Bilbao. The home defeat had been missing for 28 games
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filippomricci
– Madrid
Good news for Inter: after 28 games without defeat, and with 26 wins (and two draws with Getafe), Atletico lost at home. Simeone’s men’s seventh defeat of the season came in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final: 1-0 against Athletic, who had already beaten Atletico 2-0 at San Mames in La Liga. The return to Bilbao is set for February 29th. In the other semi-final Mallorca 0 Real Sociedad 0. Simeone’s team now have two La Liga matches left, away to Sevilla and at home to Las Palmas, before the San Siro match against the Nerazzurri for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
the choices
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The “Cholo” said that Morata played a large number of games, and then with Griezmann in attack starting Memphis Depay, 5 goals in 5 games in January. For the rest, Reinildo for Mario Hermoso, Savic for the injured Gimenez, Molina and Lino on the wings, the young Pablo Barrios starting in place of Saul, on the bench with Marcos Llorente. In Athletic, Nico Williams, a fundamental player for Valverde, does not recover, with goalkeeper Unai Simon still absent.
the net
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Baschi took the lead in the 25th minute thanks to a penalty from former Toro Berenguer who wrong-footed Aguirrezabala. Penalty whistled for a criminal entry by Reinildo on Prados, with the Mozambique defender pardoned by the red card, which seemed evident. For Reinildo, it was an evening of great suffering.
Basque bolt
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Atletico started to attack and progressively crushed Athletic in their area, with the second half becoming a real siege. Baschi at ease with a cheeky bolt and a game that ran away between chances, exposed nerves and series of errors. The substitutes Villalibre on one side and Morata on the other were terrible in attack.
final drama
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Vivian ate the 2-0, Lekue saved Correa’s shot on the line, and in the 91st minute the final drama: the referee whistles a penalty for Athletic for a silly foul by Yeray on Morata but when Griezmann is ready to shoot from VAR they warn Hernandez Hernandez that Morata was offside.
final tension
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Athletic safe and victorious at the home of their rivals for the first time since 2011, when they were still playing at the Calderon, Atletico defeated at home after over a year (8 January 2023, 0-1 with Barça), long final skirmishes to close a very tense. And we’re only at the first act. Simone Inzaghi will have taken important notes on the sofa on the fall of the Colchonero fort.
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