Match reports

0-1: A DEFEAT BUT QUALIFICATION NEVER IN DOUBT

16/01/2019

Athletic secured the win tonight at the Sánchez-Pizjuán in the second leg of the Copa del Rey, but Sevilla's 3-1 win in the first leg served enough for them to qualify for the next round. Guruzeta's impressive goal got the win for the Basque side

Despite Athletic Bilbao finding the goal which put them in front, Sevilla managed to control the game and allowed Bilbao few chances and qualification for the quarter-finals was never in doubt. The match never really got going, with Sevilla's 3-1 win at the San Mamés proving too much to come back from, meaning they will be in the draw for the quarter-finals on Friday despite the defeat tonight in the last of the three back-to-back matches against Bilbao.

For the majority of the first half, the result in the first leg seemed to be on the players' minds and that Sevilla had already qualified. Ben Yedder could have put Sevilla in front at the start of the game after a clever pass from Roque Mesa, but the French striker sent his shot above the bar. Guruzeta had a shot after a cross from Ibai and Promes sent a cross into Munir which he narrowly missed, but other than that there was little action during the game's first 35 minutes.

Both teams had their best chances in the last ten minutes of the first half

That was when the game came to life. First Guruzeta, who missed a good chance, and then Munir and Promes, who could not manage to convert a good cross from Aleix Vidal, could have put their team's in front going into the break. The last chance fell for Sevilla, but Aleix Vidal, after dribbling past Unai Simón, took too long to make his decision in front of the goal.

The second half started just as lively as the first ended, but with more impetus from Machín's men. Although they failed to create a clear chance, they managed to get into Bilbao's box many times in the first ten minutes of the half. A long-range effort from Susaeta was the away side's clearest chance in the first fifteen minutes of the half.

Guruzeta's great goal did not put the tie in doubt. Bryan, in his 20 minutes, showed great bits of quality

Sarabia came on for Franco Vázquez and the game's clearest chance came. Ben Yedder put in a perfect cross for the Spanish midfielder, who had just come on, but his shot was blocked by Balenziaga, who had launched himself desperately to avoid the goal. Despite everything seeming that there would not be more action until the end, a great header from Guruzeta, which Juan Soriano could do nothing to stop, gave Athletic a second wind with fifteen minutes to go.

They pushed on more with their heart than head as the away side did not manage to create more danger in front of goal. Bryan, who had a twenty-minute cameo, showed real quality and what he can bring in a near future. Sevilla will find out their opponent in the quarter-finals this Friday, with Getafe, Valencia and Girona already qualified.

GAME SUMMARY

0. SEVILLA FC: Juan Soriano, Carriço, Mercado, Gnagnon, Aleix Vidal, Promes, Amadou, Roque Mesa (Banega, 73'), Franco Vázquez (Sarabia, 62'), Munir and Ben Yedder (Bryan, 70').

1. ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón, Núñez, San José, Iturraspe (Muniain, 72'), Susaeta, De Marcos, Ibai, Unai López (Dani García, 65'), Balenziaga, Guruzeta and Nolaskoain.

GOALS: 0-1 Guruzeta, 76'.

OFFICIALS: González-González. Yellows for Aleix Vidal and Muniain.