History, glory and statistics come together at The Cathedral

In their century-long histories, Athletic Club and Atlético de Madrid have always had their stories intertwined, which will intensify this Thursday in an unpredictable semi-final second leg that combines all the good ingredients of a great historic rivalry.

Leones (Athletic Club) and Colchoneros (Atletico Madrid) are just one match away from the final on 6 April at La Cartuja in Seville, but first they will have to win the decider in front of a packed San Mamés (21:30 Spanish peninsular time, live on La1 and Movistar) and with a slight advantage to the home team after the first leg in the Spanish capital, anything is possible.

Enjoy all the goals, find out the starting line-ups, read the match reports or listen to the players’ post match interviews on our official website or on our X page.

Álex Berenguer's goal puts the home side in the driving seat and forces Diego Simeone's team to strive to come from behind against an opponent that has not beaten the red and whites from Madrid in the cup in the last 54 years.

Check out all the information on the two semi-finals in the full match previews.

Ernesto Valverde is without Yuri Berchiche, Yeray Álvarez, Ander Herrera and Iñigo Lekue for the Bilbao clash, while the visitors, already without Giménez, Lemar and Azpilicueta, will also be without star man Antonie Griezmann, who picked up an injury to his right ankle during the European clash in Milan.

Juan Martínez Munuera will referee the match with Diego Barbero Sevilla and Miguel Martínez Munuera as assistant referees, Eduardo Prieto Iglesias as VAR and Íñigo Prieto López de Ceraín as assistant referee in the VOR room.

Everything is to play for in this amazing setting that has been converted into a genuine Basque fortress. The Lions have not lost a Copa del Rey match at San Mamés in this decade, with a record of seven wins and three draws in the ten cup matches played at home over the last few years.

It would be enough for Valverde's side not to lose on Thursday to advance to the final for the sixth time in the last fifteen years and be in a position to break a jinx this competition that has lasted since 1984, the year of their last title, against RCD Mallorca in Seville.

Atletico Madrid, who have often been the bogey team for Los Leones in the most historical tournament in Spanish football, will be looking to set a precedent.

Simeone's men are obliged to try to mount a comeback, but they have already won half a dozen Cup ties against Athletic, including the 1985 final in Madrid, which featured two goals from Mexico's Hugo Sánchez, so they have cause for optimism.

It was against Athletic Club in May 2012 when Diego Pablo Simeone (born in 1970, the same year in which the Basques knocked Atlético out of the Copa) won the Europa League, his first major title on the red and white bench. This Thursday, a new and memorable chapter will be written on the carpet-like grass of La Catedral.