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Copa del Rey

Semi finals, first leg

Athletic Bilbao 1 – Espanyol 1

Athletic: Herrerín; Iraola (Ibai Gómez 80’), Etxeita, Gurpegui, Aurtenetxe; San José, Beñat; Susaeta (Aketxe 67’), De Marcos, Muniain (Viguera 67’); Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Pau López; Arbilla, Colotto, Héctor Moreno, Fuentes; Javi López (Salva Sevilla 88‘), Víctor Sánchez; Lucas Vázquez, Sergio García, Víctor Alvarez (Paco Montañés 90’); Stuani (Caicedo 70‘). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 11. Aduríz. Picked up De Marcos through ball and chipped shot over keeper.
1-1. 35. Víctor Sánchez. First time volley past Herrerín following poor clearance.

Yellow cards: Gurpegui 40’, Aurtenetxe 76’, Herrerín 84', Paco Montañés 91’

Espanyol are favourites for a place in this year’s cup final after they drew 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday evening, although they will probably feel that they should have come away with a victory after failing to convert several chances after the break. Aduríz celebrated his 34 th birthday with the opening goal, running on to a De Marcos pass to chip Pau López in the tenth minute, but Víctor Sánchez volleyed in a spectacular equalizer after Aurtenetxe could only clear a Sergio García cross to him some ten minutes before the interval. Muniain curled a shot just wide soon afterwards and Aduríz went close soon after the restart, but otherwise the Catalans dominated the second half, with Sergio García lobbing the ball onto the crossbar and Stuani firing a shot just over the top. Substitute Caicedo also missed an easy chance after the ball deflected to him in front of goal, and Víctor Alvarez headed a Lucas Vázquez cross against the upright with the keeper beaten.