In the semi-finals of the underdogs for the Spanish Football Cup, the surprise team Betis Sevilla took a first step towards the final.
17 years after the second and so far last cup success, the third-placed team in the championship won the first division first leg duel at the Madrid suburban club Rayo Vallecano 2-1 (1-1). With that, the Andalusians hold all the trumps ahead of the second leg on March 3 (Thursday).
The second participant in the final will be determined in a further first division comparison of favourites, Athletic Bilbao and FC Valencia.
In the first leg on Thursday (9:00 p.m.), the Basques, who knocked out cup holders FC Barcelona in the round of 16 and then record champions Real Madrid in the second round, initially have home advantage. The decision will be made in the second leg on March 2nd (Wednesday) in Valencia.