Athletic draw Atlético Madrid in Copa semi-finals

Athletic Club will face Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals of the 2023/24 Copa del Rey. It will be a two-legged tie with the first match taking place at the Metropolitano on February 6, 7 or 8 and the return fixture coming to Bilbao on February 27, 28 or 29.

To get to the final four, Los Colchonero have defeated Sevilla FC, Real Madrid and CD Lugo, while Athletic have knocked out UE Rubí, CD Cayón, SD Eibar, Deportivo Alavés and FC Barcelona.

Athletic and Atlético have locked horns 28 times in the Copa, 25 of those coming in two-legged rounds. The Lions have registered 14 wins, four draws and ten defeats against the Madrid-based outfit.

The first ever meeting was in the final of the 1920/21 edition of the tournament, which Athletic won after beating Atlético 4-1 at San Mames.

They faced off in the final once again in 1955/56 with Athletic emerging victorious after a 2-1 win. Then in 1984/85, Los Colchoneros took the trophy after beating Athletic 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

This is what Ernesto Valverde had to say about the draw.

🎙️ Ernesto Valverde on #AtletiAthletic in the Copa semi-finals 🏆

"Whichever opponent would have been difficult at this stage of the competition."

"We need to play two good games to go through." #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/Ml6GkJWI7x

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) January 26, 2024