Copa del rey: Brothers of destruction sink Atletico as Bilbao make final

Madrid, March 1

Brothers Inaki and Nico Williams teamed up with goals and assists to each other as Athletic Bilbao defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0 to reach their third Copa del Rey final in five seasons.

Gorka Guruzeta also scored for Athletic as it advanced 4-0 on aggregate after having won the first leg 1-0 in Madrid three weeks ago. The Basque Country club will play the April 6 final in Seville against Mallorca, who eliminated Athletic rivals Real Sociedad on penalties on Tuesday.

“Inaki and I have been getting along very well,” Nico said. “This victory goes to my parents who are in Ghana. Ghana will be a party.”

Nico and Inaki are sons of Ghanaian parents who migrated to Spain before they were born. They are among the few Black athletes to ever play at the club that historically fields only players from Spain’s northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas. “We have fought hard to be able to enjoy things like this,” Inaki said. “It’s a night to enjoy and to be proud.”

There was fan trouble ahead of the match, with Atletico saying one of its supporters was hospitalised with serious injuries after an altercation with Athletic fans. — AP

Ancelotti keeps it light ahead of Valencia trip

Madrid: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti sought to calm the waters around their highly anticipated match at Valencia tomorrow, when his team will return to a stadium where Brazil winger Vinicius Jr was racially abused last year. Anticipating a fiery atmosphere, Spanish authorities declared the match ‘high risk’ and ordered police reinforcements. It will be the first time Real and 23-year-old Vinicius have been back to Mestalla since May 2023, when racist slurs were allegedly hurled at the Brazilian. The 64-year-old Ancelotti, however, tried to tone down the palpable tension in the air, saying that his side were focused on playing football and strengthening their already solid grip atop the La Liga table. “Our idea is to go and play a strong game, and Valencia’s idea is the same. The teams and the fans want a spectacle,” Ancelotti said today. “We must not forget last year, because racist acts must be condemned and identified. Valencia did very well, identifying those who committed a crime.” reuters

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