Copa del Rey: Athletic Bilbao knock out Real Madrid to reach semi-final

Athletic Bilbao struck late to send Real Madrid crashing out of the Copa del Rey and reach the semifinals for the third straight season. Álex Berenguer scored in the 89th minute to give Athletic a 1-0 victory in the quarterfinal at San Mames Stadium on Thursday, ending a three-match losing streak for the Basque Country team against Madrid.

Athletic joined Valencia, Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis in the semi-finals. The draw will take place on Friday with the semi-finals being played over two legs.

It was the fourth meeting between the clubs in two months, with Madrid winning in the final of the Spanish Super Cup last month in Saudi Arabia and twice in Spanish league matches in December.

Athletic reached the last two Copa finals, losing to Basque Country rivals Real Sociedad in 2020 and Barcelona last season. It eliminated Barcelona in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup this season.

“We are proud because it’s very hard to eliminate Barça and Madrid like this,” Athletic coach Marcelino García Toral said.

“But there is still a long way to go. It’s not because we got past two powerhouses that we are already in the final.”

Madrid, the only top club still left after Barcelona and Atlético Madrid were eliminated in the last 16, hasn’t made it to the semifinals since 2018-19, when it lost to Barcelona. It hasn’t won the competition since 2014.

“It hurts because we wanted to win everything,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

“Hopefully this will make us stronger.”

Real Betis earlier won 4-0 at Sociedad and returned to the last four for the first time since 2018-19.

Madrid was without striker Karim Benzema because of a muscle injury, but Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Casemiro — who arrived from international duty with Brazil on Wednesday — were in the starting lineup. Vinícius was substituted early in the second half.

Madrid struggled in attack without Benzema and with Vinícius far from his best form. It was a bad pass by Casemiro in defense that led to Athletic’s late winner — a well-placed shot by Berenguer from inside the area.