Brothers Inaki and Nico Williams lead Athletic Bilbao to Copa final with rout of Atletico Madrid

Thu, Feb 29, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

MADRID (AP) - Brothers Inaki and Nico Williams teamed up with goals and assists to each other as Athletic Bilbao defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0 to reach its third Copa del Rey final in five seasons on Thursday.

Gorka Guruzeta also scored for Athletic as it advanced 4-0 on aggregate after having won the first leg 1-0 in Madrid three weeks ago. The Basque Country club will play the April 6 final in Seville against Mallorca, which eliminated Athletic rival Real Sociedad on penalties on Tuesday.

There was fan trouble ahead of Thursday's match at San Mames Stadium, with Atletico saying one of its supporters was hospitalized with serious injuries after an altercation with Athletic fans at a nearby bar.

Also, the start of the second half was delayed for more than 15 minutes as medics attended to an Athletic supporter in the stands. The fan reportedly had a cardiac arrest and was taken out on a stretcher. Initial reports by Spanish media said his condition was not serious.

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Athletic is the second most successful club in the Copa with 23 titles, eight less than Barcelona. It last won the competition in 1984, but was runner-up in 2019-20 and in 2021-21, losing to Sociedad and then Barcelona.

The team coached by Ernesto Valverde eliminated Barcelona in the quarterfinals this season to reach the last four for the fifth straight time.

Atletico, a 10-time Copa winner, was in the semifinals for the first time in seven seasons and was seeking its first title since 2013.

Diego Simeone's team was without forward Antoine Griezmann because of an ankle injury.

Inaki Williams opened the scoring 13 minutes into the match with a volley from inside the area after a well-placed cross by his younger brother Nico, who added to the lead from close range in the 42nd after a low cross by his sibling.

"Nico and I have fought hard to be able to enjoy things like this together," Inaki said. "It's a night to enjoy and to be proud."

Guruzeta netted the third in the 61st to seal Athletic's victory in front of more than 52,000 fans at San Mames.

Athletic's 1-0 win at the Metropolitano in the first leg ended Atletico's 28-match unbeaten streak at home across all competitions.

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