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Match preview
Who will claim the first leg advantage in this wide-open Copa del Rey semi-final?
Athletic Club are 23-times winners of this competition, only Barça can boast more, although, since their last title in 1984, they’ve been beaten in six finals.
Back in April 2021, Athletic suffered defeat in not one but two Copa del Rey Finals, beaten by Real Sociedad and then Barcelona a fortnight later.
So far this season, Ernesto Valverde’s team have overcome minnows Alzira, Sestao River and Eldense before hard-fought victories over Espanyol and Valencia.
Meanwhile, in La Liga, Sunday’s 3-2 home defeat to Girona saw them drop down to eighth, hoping their poor form doesn’t transfer across into this tournament.
The club who leapfrogged Athletic into seventh is Osasuna, after they beat Sevilla 3-2 in a thriller on Sunday night.
Jagoba Arrasate’s side also cruised through the early rounds, ousting Fuentes, Arnedo and Gimnàstic, before dumping out holders Real Betis on penalties and then Sevilla in extra time.
So, Osasuna are dreaming of their first Copa del Rey Final appearance since 2005, beaten 2-1 by Betis at the Vicente Calderón back then.
These two drew 0-0 at San Mamés in January, so will either draw first blood at El Sadar?
