UE Rubí - Athletic Club

Athletic Club beat UE Rubí 1-2 in Catalunya to advance through to the second round of the 2023/24 Copa del Rey.

After a first 45 in which veteran home goalkeeper Rafa Leiva made a number of good saves, Adu Ares put the game beyond doubt with a brace at the start of the second half. However, the locals never gave up and gave Los Leones a scare with strike from Marc Rodriguez in the 85th minute.

Athletic looked to kill off the game with an early goal. Inside the first two minutes, Alex Berenguer and Raúl García forced great saves from the hosts' goalkeeper. The packed Can Rosès had their idol for an unforgettable Copa night.

Adu Ares came to Catalunya desperate to get his first senior goal. He had three decent chances in the first half and got his reward after the break. In the 50th minute, Raúl García teed up the youngster to put one away with his left, and seven minutes later, a Berenguer cross found Ares' head at the back post.

Ernesto Valverde handed an official debut to centre back Unai Egiluz, who played the first 70 minutes. The gaffer brought on Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Dani García and Dani Vivian to see out the match after Muñi threatened on the hour mark. The forward dribbled past Julen Agirrezabala and was only denied a goal because Peru Nolaskoain headed the ball away on the line.

The Copa knows no difference between big and small. Athletic were forced to suffer until the very end after Rodri pulled one back.