After losing 1-0 at home in the first leg, another heavy defeat at San Mames in the semi-final. For Simeone’s team this is the tenth defeat of the season, the fourth in the last 7 outings
More than a remontada. Atletico had lost 1-0 at home to Athletic in the Copa del Rey semi-final and tonight in San Mames they suffered a very heavy 3-0. For Simeone’s team, this is the tenth defeat of the season, the fourth in the last 7 outings: in the three competitions, Champions League, La Liga and cup, only one victory came, the 5-0 at Las Palmas. And with Athletic this season 3 out of 3 defeats, one in La Liga, two in the cup, 6-0 on aggregate. It’s raining wet for Atletico, and morale is low. Before hosting Inter at the Metropolitano in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, the Madrid team will play in La Liga with Betis and Cadiz: two games to try to shake off the depression and regain confidence and morale.
FORTY FINAL
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Athletic are an authentic cup team: they were in their fifth consecutive semi-final and won their 40th final. They will play it against Mallorca on 6 April at the Cartuja in Seville, trying to win a title that has been missing since San Mames since 1984.
THE MATCH
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It was decided in the first half by the Williams brothers: Iñaki and Nico, 8 years apart, born in Spain to Ghanaian parents. The young Nico from the left served his big brother who opened the match with a spectacular right-footed volley in the 13th minute. Just before the break the family exchanged gifts: great action by Iñaki on the right, with a positional error by Savic and Witsel, and a convenient tap-in by Nico to send Atletico to hell.
DRY DEAD
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Simeone was without Griezmann, injured in the stands, and chose Morata and Correa up front. Alvaro went 8 games without a goal, and seemed to lack confidence, like the whole team. The clearly lost Cholo tried with Depay, Reinildo and Pablo Barrios but in the second half Guruzeta made it 3-0. San Mames euphoric despite the rain (and after ugly clashes with the police before the race) and Athletic in ecstasy. For Atletico the bad moment continues, and watch out because in La Liga the Madrid team are fourth and have just 3 points ahead of Athletic, fifth. Hell compared to Inter’s heavenly moment.
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