Valencia CF hosted Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday, the 2nd of March at 9:30 pm kick-off time. 

The game started at a high tempo at both ends with both sides looking to find a foothold in the game in the early goings of the first half at Mestalla in a tight and frantic Copa del Rey clash between both sides.   

The first Valencia CF chance fell to Bryan Gil who weaved his way into the box and waltzed past two Athletic Club players, but his bending effort went just wide of the far post over the ten-minute mark.  

Valencia CF were forced into a substitution over the half-hour mark in the game. José Bordalás made a like-for-like substitution as José Luis Gayà made way for Toni Lato who replaced the team captain at left-back. 

Giorgi Mamardashvil pulled off a stunning save in a one on one situation to keep the scoreline goalless in the closing stages.  

Gonçalo Guedes broke the deadlock on 43 minutes with an absolute screamer beyond Julen Arriezabala. 

Valencia CF edged out Athletic Club with Gonçalo Guedes goal separating the sides at the interval at Mestalla. 

Valencia CF came out to the second half looking to pick up where they left off. The first Valencia CF chance fell to Omar Alderete who headed the ball over the bar on 52 minutes as they settled into the second half being well organised, compact and tight at the back.

Carlos Soler went for the acrobatics after a Dimitri Foulquier delivery, but his forceful attempt went wide over the hour mark at Mestalla. 

Valencia CF kept on digging deep and defending in a cagey but intense passage of play giving the opposition very little in the way of danger with the Mestalla crowd right behind the team pushing on.  

Valencia CF managed to hold out and withstood Athletic Club’s late waves of attacks to go through to the Copa del Rey final in Seville and as the saying goes, history repeats itself like in 2019 and 1999.

MATCH DETAILS:

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Diakhaby, Omar Alderete, Gabriel Paulista (Hugo Guillamón, 83’, Gayà (Lato, 33’), Carlos Soler, Ilaix Moriba, Guedes, Bryan Gil (Yunus Musah, 71’), Hugo Duro.

0. ATHLETIC CLUB: Agirrezabala, Iñigo Martínez, Yeray, Vesga (Zarraga, 82’), Yuri, Berenguer (Nico Williams, 70’), Dani García (Unai Vencedor, 61’), Lekue (Petxarroman, 61’), Raúl García (Sancet, 61’), Muniain, Iñaki Williams.

GOALS: 1-0 Guedes, 42’.

REFEREE: Gil Manzano. Booked Gabriel Paulista, Iñigo Martínez and Omar Alderete.

OBSERVATIONS: Second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals held at Mestalla.