Consecutive Copa semi-finals, 34 years later

Athletic Club host Levante UD this Thursday at San Mamés in the Copa Del Rey 2020-21 semi-finals (21:00 CET).

The Lions, who defeated Granada last season to reach the final, are in the semi-finals for a second consecutive season, something which they haven’t managed since the 80s, when they recorded four semi-final appearances in a row from 1983-84 until 1986-87.

Last season, Athletic got to the final after knocking out two Tercera División sides, CF Intercity and Sestao River, in the opening rounds, before going on to beat Elche CF and CD Tenerife in the following matches. In the quarter-finals, the Lions defeated FC Barcelona at San Mamés, and subsequently overcame Granada CF in the double-legged semi-final tie.

This season, Athletic received a bye due to competing in the Supercopa. They kicked off their 2020-21 Copa campaign with victories over UD Ibiza and Alcoyano in the rounds of 32 and 16, respectively. And last Thursday, they defeated Real Betis on penalties to make the semi-finals.

You have to go back 34 years to find the last time Athletic reached consecutive semi-finals, which they managed four years on the trot in the 80s: 1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86 and 1986-87.

In 83-84, with Javier Clemente at the wheel, Athletic overcame Cartagena FC, Real Sociedad and Sporting Gijón to reach the semi-finals, where they faced Real Madrid. The Lions won 0-1 in the Santiago Bernabéu, but lost by the same result at The Cathedral, thus needing an agonising penalty shootout (4-3) to reach the final. Athletic would go on to win the competition, with Endika scoring the only goal of the match in a 1-0 victory against FC Barcelona.

In 84-85, Athletic sealed a place in the semi-finals after knocking out SD Eibar, Alcoyano, Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad. In the semi-final, the Lions beat Real Betis 2-0 in the first leg, with goals by Miguel de Andrés and Andoni Goikoetxea, they lost 1-0 in the second leg but still went through. In the final, which took place at the Bernabeú, Athletic lost 2-1. Hugo Sanchez ensuring victory for Los Blancos despite a Julio Salinas strike.

The following season, Athletic entered the tournament in the round of 16, defeating Castellon and Sabadell on the way to the semis, where the lost 3-1 on aggregate to FC Barcelona.

In a similar vein to the previous year, Athletic received a bye and knocked out Langreo and Logroñes to make it to the semis. At the penultimate hurdle, they faced Basque rivals Real Sociedad but lost 1-0 on aggregate.