Athletic and Valencia, brawlers and cupbearers, leave everything for Mestalla

• 1-1 in San Mamés Narrative and statistics

• History Three extensions and a golden goal in 1950

• 1-2 in Vallecas Two flag goals bring Betis closer to the final

No scriptwriter would have imagined a Cup semi-final other than the one experienced in San Mamés.

against

;

Athletic's pedigree in the competition seasoned with giant-killer stripes, against a rough and tumble Valencia, capable of gritting its teeth and entrusting itself to the talent of two electric lefties.

Two teams seeking happiness based on brief bursts of joy.

At no time was it glimpsed that the duel did not arrive alive at Mestalla.

It will be in the ancient stadium where the finalist will be born.

The weight of respect gripped Athletic's illusion at the start adorned by the atmosphere of San Mamés.

As someone who intends to respond to the expectations of the unconditional mentor, Marcelino's team had a hard time getting into a game that Valencia read better.

He fought against the bad habit of letting games mature until they become impossible and chose to show his weapons, which have gone from being blank to intimidating.

' speed ,

's dribbles and

's fang

forced the Basque defense, which had lost

almost at the foot of the bus.

The first notice was a center from

, whom

and Bryan found alone on the baseline, but Hugo Duro attacked him badly at the far post.

He wanted to give

an answer in a ride so that

shot to the side of the net and intimidated the rookie

.

Marcelino's team was not comfortable and Valencia smelled it.

moments of disconnection

More ball, not much judgment to handle it despite the will of

,

and

, and much more presence in the area with an attacking trio capable of shooting genius.

Guedes put up counters in a snap, Bryan dribbled mercilessly at

and Duro lacked aim.

The problem is that it barely lasted.

Athletic did not lose patience, perhaps because they know that they did not have a stable rival, capable of sustaining themselves physically and in the game without having moments of disconnection and rude errors.

The duel began to turn with a loan from

that surprised the Georgian goalkeeper and was about to be a goal.

, on the bench, felt a pinch.

The ball did not go in, but it unhinged the French center-back, since then lost in battles with the rojiblanco players, sowing doubt in the goal and arousing the local ambition by pushing for a devoted stand.

Mamardashvili catches a ball against Iñigo Martínez and Yeray.AFP

Greased and overcome the Valencian push,

and Raúl García began to seem to create doubts without having to be too fine.

was missing

.

Soler and

caught him at a foul at the top of the area and, with his glove, he put a perfect ball to the head of Raúl García for the explosion of San Mamés, who looked one step closer to the third final.

The intensity of Valencia vanished, the game got muddy and ended in a brawl in the locker room tunnel that ended with the expulsion of substitute

.

Trabada also began the second half, intense and obtuse both teams, rough and tumblers, as if it were a tribute to their nature.

But Valencia, who for the first time showed the warrior gene of the Bordalás teams, was not worth it.

The left-handed connection was activated again in a robbery by Foulquier, versatile and tireless, so that Guedes unstitched

, served a shot to Bryan that

rejected, who could not prevent the appearance of Hugo Duro for the equalizer.

The goal spurred Valencia, which caused the rojiblanco tremble, about to grant the second to Duro, but also to take the victory in the addition after an absurd slip by Foulquier.

Nothing was enough.

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Know more

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Copa del ReyTwo flag goals in Vallecas bring Betis closer to the final

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