Atletico Madrid enter the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal against Athletic Bilbao holding a slim 1-0 lead. Diego Godín's goal four minutes before halftime in the first leg was the difference in last week's game but it leaves the defending champions with work to do at the San Mamés on Wednesday.
Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid: Preview and TV schedule
Defending Copa del Rey champions Atlético Madrid face a stiff test in the second leg against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
Atléti rebounded in league play over the weekend defeating Rayo Vallecano 4-2 in their biggest goal scoring outburst of 2014. In fact, it's the first time they've scored more than a single goal in a league match since late December. They may not need more than a single goal to get past Athletic, but one suspects Diego Simeone would feel much better grabbing two or three and moving on.
For Atheltic Bilbao a one goal deficit is hardly an insurmountable one but they’ll have to find a way to do something they’ve yet to do against Atléti in two games this season...score a goal. A third clean sheet by the visitors would knock Atheltic out of the tournament so the mission is pretty simple.
Athletic Bilbao injuries and suspensions
Out: Gaizka Toquero (knock), Unai Albizua (thigh).
Atletico Madrid injuries and suspensions
Out: Mario Suárez (knee).
Projected lineups
Athletic Bilbao: Iago Herreriín, Aymeric Laporte, Andoni Iraola, Mike Balenziaga, Ander Iturraspe, Mikel Rico, Carlos Gurpegui, Ander Herrera, Kike Sola, Óscar de Marcos, Ibai Gomez
Atletico Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Diego Godín, Filipe Luís, Toby Alderweireld, Juanfran, Koke, Raúl Garcia, Cristian Rodríguez, Joshua Guilavogui, Diego Cotsa, Adrián
Match Date/Time: 9 p.m. local, 3 p.m. ET
Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain
TV: beIN Sports en Español (U.S.), Sky Sports 2 (U.K.)
Online: beIN Sports Play (U.S.), beIN Sports Play (Canada)
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