MATCH REPORT | Athletic get a win to take back to La Catedral for the return leg (0-1)

The first part of the clash between two historically successful cup sides was decided on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins in favour for the team with the most cup victories between them.

Athletic Club prevailed in a thrilling semi-final first round that leaves every result still possible for the return leg on 29 February at San Mamés.

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In front of a packed Metropolitano, both teams had to juggle their starting line-ups due to injuries. Reinildo was Simeone's big bet, as well as leaving Morata on the bench, while his counterpart, Valverde, had to do without Nico Williams, one of the heroes of the previous round.

The home team created good chances as early as the first minute, however, Atletico started the game up against an unbeatable Agirrezabala in their opponents’ goal.

With Memphis and Griezmann looking dangerously incisive, Valverde’s men pushed hard in wide positions in order to try to relieve the Atletico pressure.

Little by little, the Lions awoke and managed to start mounting probing counter-attacks of their own until the first match-changing moment of the match midway through the first half. It was Reinildo who, sliding in, arrived late to intercept a pass, bringing down Beñat Prados and conceding a penalty that Álex Berenguer drilled into the back of the net.

The goal gave the Basque side a chance to relax and play their own game, but it spurred on Simeone’s men, who pushed on with all they had until Hernández Hernández's whistle brought an end to the half, but not before a threatening looking Griezmann shot from the edge of the area snuck past the outside of the near post.

After the restart, Simeone brought on Mario Hermoso but Athletic continued to look dangerous with their lightning-fast counterattacks, with Unai Gómez looking constantly dangerous with his shots from the top of the box.

Oblak saved to prevent a second Basque goal, while up the other end Samuel Lino provided the home side's response with his tormenting runs down the left flank.

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With twenty minutes to go, the Brazilian went close to scoring an equaliser after Marcos Llorente played him in from the right flank.

Neither Morata nor Vivian could find the net for their respective sides, and local boy Lekue defended heroically, blocking a close-range shot as the game drew to a close.

In injury time, Atletico seemed to have found the path to an equaliser when Yeray brought down Morata in what was initially judged to be a penalty by VAR, but then ruled offside, in what was a correct decision made by VAR.

A final header from the Spanish national team's top scorer Morata went just wide of Agirrezabala's right-hand post in the final minutes. With this move, the action came to a close and the victory went to the Lions. Now there is another great match on the horizon to decide the finalists in the return leg on 29 February at La Catedral.