Keep an eye on data from Athletic’s four consecutive Cup semi-final games

Starting tomorrow, Athletic will face Atlético de Madrid in the Metropolitano, the fifth semi-final of the Cup in a row. He succeeded in the first two editions. The two later, no. There are a few other common elements that recur in the passage of this quartet of commitments as the KO tournament is held under its current format in terms of first leg matches. Coming back is another story.

1. Three at home and one away

The first legs of the semifinals corresponding to the 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 editions were played in San Mamés. Athletic won 1-0 in their first against Granada and drew 1-1 in the next two against Levante and Valencia, respectively. In the 2022-23 edition, however, they played as visitors and lost to El Sadar 1-0.

2. One goal in the crowd

The results corresponding to the first legs of the last four consecutive semi-finals played by the lions show that Athletic have not scored more than one goal in any of them since ‘The Cup is cool’ , but they have also not received more than one goal per match. Equality reigned among them all.

3. Seven lions repeat in all

Four players from the current Athletic squad and another who no longer belongs to the red and white discipline have been starters in the four previous first leg matches in the Cup semi-finals: Yuri, Iñigo Martínez, Dani García, Muniain and Iñaki Williams. Two other lions also participated in each of those commitments, but did not always start in the starting eleven: Vesga and Raúl García.

4. Three different coaches

The first coach to take Athletic to the semifinals of the Cup with the current competitive format was Gaizka Garitano. Marcelino took over the following season and repeated for the second time in a row with unusual luck as he managed to get the team into the final in the first, the same place as his predecessor, and not in the second. Valverde also had the lions in the semis for the second year in a row, although they initially missed out on the final.

5. Best position in the League

Athletic will face the first leg of the semi against Atlético with more Liga points than in the previous four editions. In the 2019-20 campaign, the red and white team is ninth with 31 points (6 from Europe and 13 from relegation), in 20-21 eleventh with 25 points (five from Europe and five from relegation), in 21-22 eighth with 34 points (one from Europe and 16 from relegation) and in 22-23 ninth with 32 points (2 from Europe and 11 from relegation). After the 23rd league matchday, the same as in the four remaining editions except for 2020-21, which is the 22nd, Valverde’s students come fifth in the table with 45 points (with ten leaders in the European zone and 28 of the descent).

6. Earlier rivals in the League

The results before the first leg of the Cup semi-finals were a 2-1 defeat against Real in 19-20, a draw with Valencia 1-1 in 20-21, a 2-1 victory against Espanyol in 21 – 22, 2-3 defeat against Girona in 22-23 and in the current 4-0 win against Mallorca.

7. The Athletic lineup each season

-2019-20 SEASON

ATHLETIC 1-0 GRANADA

First Simon; Capa, Yeray, Nuñez, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Iñaki Williams, Dani García (San José 84′), Vesga, Muniain; and Raúl García (Aduriz 67′).

-SEASON 20-21

ATHLETIC 1-1 LEVANTE

First Simon; Capa (Berenguer 46′), Yeray, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; De Marcos, Dani García (Unai López 46′), Vencedor (Vesga 46′), Muniain; Iñaki Williams (Villaliber 79′) and Raúl García

-SEASON 2021-22

ATHLETIC 1-1 VALENCIA

Agirrezabala; Lekue (Vivian 46′), Yeray, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Berenguer, Dani García (Zarraga 78′), Vesga, Muniain; Raúl García (Sancet 67′) and Iñaki Williams (Villalibre 78′)

-SEASON 2022-23

OSASUNA 1-0 ATHLETIC

Agirrezabala; De Marcos (Lekue 58′), Vivian, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Dani Garcia, Vesga; Berenguer (Raúl García 58′), Sancet, Muniain (Nico Williams 65′); and Iñaki Williams (Guruzeta 82′).