Athletic Bilbao are through to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, dumping Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid out of the cup in the process.
A last-gasp strike from Alex Berenguer gave Athletic a 1-0 win in El Viejo Clasico and a ticket to the last four as Marcelino’s Leones roared with delight at the final whistle.
Bilbao are hoping to make a third consecutive final appearance and on this performance they can beat anyone. Los Leones left it late though, until substitute Berenguer cut inside and fired a beauty into the bottom corner with just one minute left on the clock.
And Bilbao made a little piece of history as only the second team after Real Zaragoza to knock both Real Madrid and Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey in one season.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos can concentrate on the league, which they lead by four points from second placed Sevilla.
Real chance for flying Betis
Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis stormed into the Copa semi-finals with a 4-0 thrashing of Real Sociedad and that puts them in pole position to take the big domestic trophy.
Here at SBOTOP, we took a look at this game and warned Sociedad fans of Real Betis’ multiple attacking threat and so it turned out as Betis handed out a second 4-0 walloping to these opponents in a matter of two months.
On December 12th at the Benito Villamarin, over 50,000 fans raised the roof as Alex Moreno had two, while Juanmi and Nabil Fekir had one apiece for four goals total.
But on Thursday, the 30,000 supporters at San Sebastian were rather quieter as Juanmi scored a brace before Willian Jose slotted home a late penalty and Aitor Ruibal added insult to injury with a fourth goal on 89 minutes.
The Copa del Rey 2022 betting odds now have Los Verdiblancos as favourites to lift the trophy and I suspect Sociedad will be sick of the sight of them.
Guedes is so good or Valencia
Valencia beat Cadiz 2-1 in a feisty affair at the Mestalla Stadium to book their place in the semi-finals as midfield ace Goncalo Guedes set them on the road to victory.
The Portuguese star has been Los Ches’ go-to man this season, top scoring with eight league goals and he has made five assists, and the legendary Valencia fans were in full voice as he slotted home the opener mid way through the first half after collecting a pass from Hugo Duro.
Lucas Perez clawed Cadiz back into the game, smashing a penalty into the top corner but Valencia fought back to win as Duro headed home from a corner on 79 minutes.
Valencia manager Jose Bordelas was delighted saying:“It’s very important, we are very happy. We must congratulate the fans who were sensational. The atmosphere was awesome. There were moments at the end that gave is goosebumps.”
Oscar is spot on for Rayo
A first-half penalty converted by Oscar Trejo gave Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 victory over RCD Mallorca to make up the numbers in the semi-final. Rayo dominated possession and had 18 shots to Mallorca’s nine, but they struggled to test the visitors’ keeper, managing just three shots on target.
But 33-year-old Trejo kept his cool when he was presented with a golden opportunity just before the break. Mallorca centre-back Franco Russo fouled Alvaro Garcia in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.
Up stepped the Argentine forward and he slotted the ball coolly into the bottom right corner, giving the Mallorca keeper no chance.
Well, we have the Copa del Rey 2022 results in and the last four are lined up for the 2022 trophy, but now the Spanish elite turn their attention back to league matters.
Betis face seventh-placed Villarreal on Sunday. Los Verdiblancos are flying high in the league table in third place and they will fancy themselves against the Yellow Submarine.
Rayo Vallecano are having a fine season and are in eighth place, but they have a tricky away game to Celta Vigo to negotiate.
Ninth-placed Athletic Bilbao can continue their progress with a home game against Espanyol on Monday night, while Valencia are one place behind in 10th and chasing the Europa places and they have a fantastic clash at home to Real Sociedad to look forward to.
The Mestalla Stadium will surely be bouncing again while the bruised and beaten La Real will be hoping for a bounce back.
And then there is one game which no one wants to miss when Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou, and the anticipation grows as Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang could be in line for his Blaugrana debut.
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