Bilbao win over Atletico in Copa del Rey semi first leg

AFP, Madrid :
Alex Berenguer earned Athletic Bilbao an impressive 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid in a tense Copa del Rey semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday.

The winger rolled home a 25th minute penalty to secure the victory but Atletico were frustrated after a late spot kick in their favour was annulled.

Yeray Alvarez felled Alvaro Morata in the area in stoppage time but a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review showed the forward was offside in the buildup.

Athletic inflicted Atletico’s first home defeat of the season across all competitions.

“They pressed us well in the second half especially, but in the end we got a very good result,” Berenguer told Movistar.

“We did what we’ve been doing all the year, the team sacrificed a lot and this is the way we have to continue.”

Sitting fourth in La Liga and 10 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, cup success remains Atletico’s best avenue to silverware this season.

Diego Simeone’s side defeated current holders Real Madrid in the last 16 and scraped past Sevilla to reach the semis, but will need to mount a comeback in the Basque Country.