Real Madrid’s run in the Copa del Rey came to a crashing end as they lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames on Thursday night.ย
The match, a quarter-final clash, seemed to be headed for extra-time until Alex Berenguer found the back of the net in the 89th minute to send his side through.ย
FINAL I ยกยก๐๐ข ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ!!
El Athletic vence al @realmadrid en los cuartos de final de la Copa gracias al gol de @AlexBerenguerR
โ ยกยก๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ฆ!!#AthleticRealMadrid ๐ #AthleticClub ๐ฆ pic.twitter.com/Tsh4R0hRLO
โ Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) February 3, 2022
The hosts were the better side in the opening stages of the match, with Dani Garcia coming close twice in the opening quarter of the match.ย
Iker Muniain also had a good effort flash by the post midway through the match with the visitors unusually quiet in attack.ย ย
Athletic Bilbao then suffered an injury blow as Nico Williams was forced off with a horrible injury just before the break.
Madrid improved in the second period and came close to taking the lead on a number of occasions, with Casemeiro forcing a good save from the goalie after he was accorded time and space inside the box to unleash a good shot.ย
The decisive goal finally arrived in the 89th minute when Berenguer took a great first touch to control a killer pass on the edge of the box and drilled a shot into the bottom left corner in trademark fashion.
The win was sweet revenge for Bilbao, who lost 2-0 to Madrid in the Super Cup final last month.ย