Athletic Bilbao set up all-Basque Copa del Rey final against Sociedad
MADRID — A goal nine minutes from time by defender Yuri Berchiche took Athletic Bilbao into an all-Basque Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad on Thursday when they edged Granada on away goals.
Athletic had led 一-0 from the first leg but fellow La Liga side Granada levelled the tie on the night through Carlos Fernandez in the 四 八th minute.
Granada, in their first semi-final since 一 九 六 九, then edged ahead 二- 一 overall thanks to a goal from German Sanchez after 七 六 minutes.
However, their hopes of making the final were dashed when left-back Berchiche scored in the 八 一st minute after being set up by Mikel Vesga to secure his team a spot in the April 一 八 finale in Seville.
With 二 三 titles, Athletic Bilbao are second on the all-time list of Copa del Rey winners behind Barcelona who have triumphed 三0 times.
Real Sociedad ended the hopes of second division Mirandes on Wednesday with a 一-0 win which moved them into the final for the first time in 三 二 years.
Sociedad had already won the first leg 二- 一 and they cemented their spot in the final when striker Mikel Oyarzabal scored a 四 一st-minute penalty after a handball in the area by a Mirandes player.
Mirandes were attempting to become the first second division club to reach the final since 一 九 八0.
Real Sociedad, who were Copa del Rey winners in 一 九0 九 and 一 九 八 七 and knocked out Real Madrid 四- 三 in this season's quarter-finals, will be playing in their first final since 一 九 八 八 when they lost 一-0 to Barcelona. — AFP
